\ 


V 


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j/i 

ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY : ^ 


lJZ£sr 


HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT 

OF  INCIDENTS  AND  EVENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  ITS  ESTAB¬ 
LISHMENT. 

Charter  anb  Supplemental  ^cts  of  f  egislation. 

REPORTS  OF  1848  AND  1857. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  CORPORATORS,  JUNE  21,  1873. 
$ute£,  §Uflulati0tti8it  &r. 

LIST  OF  OFFICERS,  MANAGERS  AND  CORPORATORS 
TO  DATE. 

JUemarfe  on  ilie  ® rnamentation  and  Jtarangement  of  Cemeteries. 

FUNERAL  ORATION  OF  WILSON  McCANDLESS,  Esq. 
ON  COMMODORE  BARNEY  AND  LIEUT.  PARKER. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  SIXTEEN  PHOTOGRAPHIC  VIEWS. 


PITTSBURGH: 

PRINTED  BY  BAKEWELL  MARTHENS. 
1873. 


“If  there  he  one  object  more  material,  more  revolting,  more  gloomy 
than  another,  it  is  a  crowded  church  yard  in  a  city.  It  has  neither 
sympathy  nor  memory.  The  pressed  down  stones  lie  heavy  upon  the 
very  heart.  The  sunshine  cannot  get  to  them  for  smoke.  There  is  a 
crowd,  and,  like  most  crowds,  there  is  no  companionship.  Sympathy 
is  the  softener  of  death ;  and  memory  of  the  loved  and  lost  is  the 
earthly  shadow  of  their  immortality. 

“I  pray  thee,  lay  me  not  to  rest 
Among  these  mouldering  bones ; 

Too  heavily  the  earth  is  prest 
By  all  these  crowded  stones.” 


Miss  Landon’s  City  Church  Yard. 


REVISED  LIST  OF  CORPORATORS. 


The  present  revised  list  of  Corporators  is  composed  of  the 


following  persons : 

ELECTED. 

ELECTED. 

Thomas  M.  Howe, 

1844.  James  Park,  Jr., 

1858. 

John  H.  Shoenberger, 

“  Samuel  Eea, 

a 

Wilson  McCandless, 

“  William  Thaw, 

1863. 

James  E.  Speer, 

“  Alexander  Bradley, 

1865. 

Thomas  J.  Bigham, 

“  J.  H.  Lynch, 

1867. 

Harvey  Childs, 

“  James  B.  Murray, 

u 

Jacob  Painter, 

“  Francis  Sellers, 

u 

Eobert  Beer, 

“  Henry  W.  Williams, 

a 

Eobert  S.  Cassatt, 

“  John  Chislett,  Jr., 

1869. 

John  D.  McCord, 

“  George  W.  Cass, 

(C 

Jesse  Carothers, 

1845.  William  K.  Mmick, 

u 

William  Holmes, 

“  Charles  Hays, 

a 

Charles  F.  Spang, 

“  Josiah  King,  resigned 

Charles  Bradford, 

“  in  1845,  re-elected 

1873. 

Alfred  Culbertson, 

u  John  Harper, 

u 

Samuel  Bailey, 

1850.  Springer  Harbaugh, 

a 

William  Bagaley, 

“  E.  P.  Jones, 

u 

J.  K.  Moorhead, 

Charles  J.  Clark, 

a 

PREFACE. 


The  historical  paper  referred  to  in  the  resolution 
of  the  Managers  passed  October  31,  1872  (p.  vii), 
should  have  been  published  some  months  since,  but 
it  haying  been  determined  to  accompany  it  %  with 
photographic  yiews  of  a  few  of  the  great  number 
of  elegant  and  tasteful  monuments  and  improve¬ 
ments  which  ornament  the  grounds,  and  the  very 
unfavorable  weather  of  the  last  winter  haying  ren¬ 
dered  it  impossible  to  complete  this  work  as  early  as 
it  was  expected,  it  was  at  length  concluded  to  defer 
the  publication  until  after  the  annual  meeting  of 
Corporators,  and  to  embody  with  it  the  proceedings 
of  that  meeting,  and  a  variety  of  other  documents 
and  articles  relating  to  the  subject,  which,  it  is  hoped, 
will  not  be  without  interest  to  the  reader. 

From  information  received  since  the  historical 
account  was  written,  it  appears  that  a  few  of  the 
statements  it  contains  are  not  correct. 

Judge  John  M.  Snowden  and  his  intelligent  and 
excellent  wife,  who  survived  him  but  a  few  years, 

1 


11 


Preface. 


are  not  buried  in  the  Allegheny  Cemetery.  They 
are  both  interred  four  miles  south  of  the  Mononga- 
hela  river,  in  the  grave-yard  attached  to  Concord 
Church,  which  was  founded  by  him,  and  for  a  num¬ 
ber  of  years  sustained  by  his  special  exertions. 

E.  W.  Stephens,  of  New  Castle,  whose  name  ap¬ 
pears  on  the  list  of  original  corporators  as  still  living, 
died  within  the  last  year,  and  is  interred  in  the  Alle¬ 
gheny  Cemetery. 

Dr.  Wm.  McK.  Morgan  is  buried  in  the  Ceme¬ 
tery,  though  his  name  is  omitted  in  the  paragraph 
referring  to  deceased  physicians  of  the  city,  the 
writer  having  been  incorrectly  informed  that  his  re¬ 
mains  had  been  removed  to  Washington  county  for 
interment. 

The  photographic  views  are  pronounced  by  com¬ 
petent  judges  to  be  fine  specimens  of  the  art. 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Annual  Meeting  of  Corporators,  June  21 ,  1873,  v 
Historical  Account  of  Incidents  and  Events 
RELATING  TO  THE  ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY,  .  .  9 


Charter, . 49 

Supplemental  Acts  of  Legislation,  .  .  .53 
Report  of  Managers  of  1848,  .  .  .  .  62 

Report  of  Managers  of  1857,  .  .  .  .77 
Report  of  Superintendent,  .  .  .  .  88 


Description  of  New  Office  Buildings,  .  .93 

Description  of  Receiving  Vault,,  ...  98 

Marble  Tablet  in  Reception  Room,  .  .  .  102 

Original  Corporators, . 103 

Deceased  Corporators,  and  New  Members 
Elected  to  fill  Vacancies,  .  .  .  .101 

List  of  Officers  and  Managers  from  1844  to 

1873, .  106 

Rules  and  Regulations  for  Lot-holders,  .  114 
Rules  and  Regulations  for  Visitors,  .  .  117 

Rules  in  Regard  to  Interments,  .  .  .119 

Suggestions  in  Regard  to  Improvements,  .  121 

Table  of  Estimated  Expenditures  by  Lot- 
holders,  for  Monuments,  &c.,  on  Private  Lots,  123 
Table  of  Annual  Interments  from  1845  to 
June  1,  1873, .  124 


IV 


Index. 


Page. 

Nursery  Department,  Report  of  D.  Woods,  .  126 

Heirship  of  Lots, . 130 

Form  of  Deed  to  Purchaser  of  Lot,  .  .  133 

Form  of  Deed  of  Trust  or  Reconveyance  to 

Cemetery,  . . 135 

Form  of  Bequest  to  Endowment  Fund,  .  .  136 

Statistics  required  on  Application  for  Burial,  138 

Form  of  Order  for  Interment,  .  .  .138 

The  Ornamentation  and  Arrangement  of  Cem¬ 
eteries,  . . 139 

Funeral  Oration,  .  .  .  .  .  .152 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  ANNUAL  MEETING 


or  THE 

Corporators  of  Allegheny  Cemetery, 

JUNE  21,  1873. 


Due  notice  having  been  given,  the  annual  meeting 
of  Corporators  was  held  at  the  new  office  buildings 
of  the  Company,  on  the  grounds. 

On  motion  of  Gen.  Howe,  the  Hon.  T.  J.  Bigham, 
who  was  an  original  Corporator  and  Secretary  of  the 
first  Board  of  Managers  in  1844  and  1845,  was  called 
to  the  chair. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  annual  meeting  were  read 
and  approved. 

After  consultation  in  regard  to  the  general  inter¬ 
ests  of  the  Cemetery,  and  the  reading  of  the  annual 
reports,  an  election  was  held  for  seven  Managers  to 
serve  for  the  ensuing  year,  when  it  was  found  that 
the  following  named  persons  were  duly  elected : 


VI 


Annual  Meeting. 


Thomas  M.  Howe,  President , 

John  H.  Shoenberger, 

Wilson  McCandless, 

James  R.  Speer, 

J.  K.  Moorhead, 

William  Thaw, 

William  Holmes. 

James  R.  Speer,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

The  following  persons  were  also  elected  to  fill  va¬ 
cancies  in  the  Board  of  Corporators  :  John  Harper, 
E.  P.  Jones,  Josiah  King,  Springer  Harbaugh,  Chas. 
J.  Clark. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  an  interesting  address 
was  delivered  by  the  chairman,  in  relation  to  the 
affairs  of  the  institution,  in  which  he  adverted  to  the 
active  part  he  had  taken  in  initiating  the  enterprise, 
aud  the  deep  interest  and  pleasure  he  felt  in  witness¬ 
ing  its  success  and  continued  prosperity  up  to  the 
present  time. 

The  address  has  since  been  published  in  the  Pitts¬ 
burgh  Gazette  of  July  1st,  and  will  richly  repay  pe¬ 
rusal. 


Resolution. 


Yll 


RESOLUTION  OF  BOARD  OF  MANAGERS. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Managers  of  the  Allegheny  Cenrtetery, 
held  October  31 , 1872,  Dr.  J.  R.  Speer  read  a  Historical  Essay, 
in  which  were  embodied  for  preservation,  many  interesting 
facts  connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  Allegheny  Cem¬ 
etery,  gathered  from  old  records  and  from  his  own  recollec¬ 
tion;  whereupon,  it  was 

Resolved ,  That  the  paper  just  read  by  Dr.  Speer  be  pub¬ 
lished  in  suitable  form,  when  prepared  for  the  press  by  its 
author,  and  that  the  President  be  requested  to  advise  as  to 
the  shape  in  which  the  publication  shall  be  made. 


SUMMARY  OF  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT. 


Efforts  to  found  a  Rural  Cemetery  in  the  vicinity  of  Pitts¬ 
burgh  commenced  as  early  as  1834. 

The  era  of  Rural  Cemeteries. 

Mount  Auburn,  at  Boston,  opened  in  1831. 

The  conception  of  a  Rural  Cemetery  traced  to  ancient 
times. 

Description  of  the  field  of  Hebron  and  the  cave  of  Mach- 
pelah. 

Correspondence  with  Stephen  Colwell,  Esq.,  in  1842. 

Record  of  Public  Meetings  in  1844,  to  promote  the  object. 

Brief  Synopsis  of  Charter,  and  comments  on  its  leading 
features. 

Explanation  of  objects  and  purposes  of  founders  fully  ex¬ 
plained  in  the  Resolution  of  T.  M.  Howe,  and  unani¬ 
mously  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Managers,  Sept.  20, 
1845. 

Manner  in  which  funds  of  the  Company  are  invested  and 
expended. 

Permanent,  Endowment,  and  Improvement  Funds. 

Description  of  the  grounds,  their  beauty  and  fitness  to  the 
purpose. 

Important  results  already  accomplished  by  the  Company. 

Tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  worthy  dead. 


SYLVAN  LAKE 


HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT. 

No  extended  report  having  been  made  for  several 
years,  relating  to  the  affairs  of  the  Allegheny  Cemetery, 
the  present  seems  to  furnish  a  suitable  occasion  to  give 
to  the  public  some  information,  not  only  in  regard  to 
their  condition  at  this  time,  but  to  take  a  brief  retro¬ 
spect  of  the  early  history  of  the  enterprise,  and  to 
pluck  from  the  stream  of  time,  before  they  have 
floated  beyond  the  view  of  those  now  living,  a  few 
facts  and  incidents  which  may  be  of  interest  in  after 
time. 

This  seems  to  be  the  more  desirable,  as  all  the  records 
and  papers  relating  to  the  proceedings  of  the  company 
previous  to  the  10th  of  April,  1845,  were  destroyed  in 
the  office  of  Richard  Biddle,  Esq.,  by  the  great  fire 
which  occurred  on  that  day.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
corporation  after  that  date  was  held  in  the  Board  of 
Trade  rooms,  May  30,  1845. 

In  order  to  give  more  distinctness  to  the  narrative 

2 


10 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


of  such  events  and  facts  as  may  be  deemed  worthy  of 
notice,  we  propose  to  arrange  them  in  the  following 
order :  Those  occurring  previous  to  the  date  of  charter, 
a  period  of  ten  years ;  those  occurring  from  that  time 
to  date  of  Report  of  1857,  a  period  of  thirteen  years  ; 
and  those  occurring  from  1857  to  the  present  time, 
a  period  of  sixteen  years.  Those  relating  more 
especially  to  the  organization  of  the  company,  the 
purchase  of  the  grounds,  plans  for  raising  funds  to 
meet  payments,  their  dedication,  first  sale  of  lots,  and 
other  important  matters  of  that  date,  are  detailed  in 
the  Report  presented  by  Gen.  Howe,  in  June,  1848, 
which  will  he  perpetuated  in  the  records  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  and  treasured  as  an  interesting  recital  of  its 
early  struggles  and  complete  success. 

The  first  and  third  periods  will  therefore  furnish 
the  chief  subjects  for  this  communication. 

In  a  note  appended  to  the  Report  of  1848  it  is 
stated  that  as  early  as  1834  an  attempt  had  been 
made  by  Dr.  J.  R.  Speer,  Stephen  Colwell  and  John 
Chislett,  Esqs.,  to  establish  a  rural  cemetery  in  this 
neighborhood.  The  three  persons  named  were  con¬ 
nected  at  that  time  with  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Pittsburgh,  of  which  Dr.  D.  H.  Riddle 
was  pastor,  and  the  congregation  not  having  procured 
a  burying  ground,  their  attention  was  drawn  to  the 
subject,  and  it  was  proposed  at  one  time  to  purchase 
the  lot  then  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Judge  Roberts, 


Historical  Account. 


11 


situated  on  the  south  side  of  Wylie  street,  and 
opposite  to  the  present  residence  of  Gen.  Moorhead. 
The  entire  lot,  containing  eleven  acres,  was  offered 
for  live  thousand  dollars,  and  on  easy  terms,  and  was 
considered  sufficiently  large  for  one  congregation ; 
hut  in  the  mean  time,  the  decided  success  of  Mount 
Auburn  Cemetery,  at  Boston,  led  them  to  change 
and  enlarge  their  views  and  plans,  so  as  to  embrace 
the  prospective  wants  of  the  whole  population  of  the 
two  cities  of  all  denominations  that  might  think 
proper  to  unite  in  the  movement. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1834,  the  person  first  named 
in  the  note  referred  to  (now  the  only  survivor  of  the 
three) ,  had  visited  the  cities  along  the  Atlantic  coast, 
from  Washington  to  Boston,  and  though  the  trip 
was  one  of  recreation,  he  lost  no  opportunity  of 
gathering  information  in  regard  to  new  enterprises, 
and  their  plans  of  operation,  for  the  establishment 
of  rural  cemeteries.  A  visit  to  the  tomb  of  Wash¬ 
ington,  at  Mount  Vernon,  was  eminently  calculated 
to  heighten  the  interest  he  felt  in  the  subject,  recalling 
as  it  did,  the  life,  character  and  virtues  of  the  model 
statesman  and  patriot  of  the  eventful  age  in  which 
he  lived. 

At  Boston  he  visited  Mount  Auburn,  the  first  rural 
cemetery  in  the  United  States.  In  none  of  the 
intervening  cities  had  the  rural  plan  yet  been 
adopted.  Mount  Auburn  Cemetery  was  chartered  in 


12 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


1831,  Laurel  Hill,  at  Philadelphia,  in  1836,  and 
Greenwood,  at  New  York,  in  1838.  In  the  two 
latter  cities  the  old  system  still  prevailed  of  small, 
crowded  and  unsightly  graveyards,  generally  con¬ 
nected  with  individual  churches.  It  was  only  after 
a  four  years  struggle  and  failure,  that  the  success  of 
Greenwood  was  finally  established,  and  the  grounds 
opened  to  the  public  for  burial  purposes  in  1842. 
This  was  owing,  however,  to  the  mistake  on  the  part 
of  the  founders  of  attempting  to  base  the  enterprise 
on  the  stock  company  principle,  and  furnished  a 
useful  lesson  to  others  engaged  in  similar  under¬ 
takings.  Since  that  period  its  success  has  been  sat¬ 
isfactory  and  progressive. 

At  Mount  Auburn,  the  tout  ensemble  in  design  and 
execution,  its  ample  grounds  covered  with  forest 
trees,  its  avenues  and  monuments,  its  chaste  and 
elegant  improvements,  required  only  to  be  seen  to 
produce  the  conviction  that  a  new  and  better  method 
was  introduced  in  regard  to  burying  the  dead,  and 
that  soon  it  would  be  adopted  in  all  the  principal 
cities  and  large  towns  in  the  country.  Like  many 
of  the  most  important  improvements,  however,  in 
every  department  and  business  of  life,  time  and  effort 
were  necessary  to  secure  its  introduction.  The  press 
had  to  be  enlisted,  and  visitors  induced  to  turn  aside 
from  the  pursuits  of  business  and  pleasure,  and  see 
and  examine  the  new  plan  for  themselves,  but  wher- 


Historical  Account. 


13 


ever  this  was  done,  all  doubts  were  at  once  removed 
as  to  its  superior  advantages.  Though  but  three 
years  had  elapsed  since  the  grounds  were  opened,  it 
was  truly  surprising  to  witness  what  the  proverbial 
taste  and  wealth  of  Boston  had  accomplished  in  that 
short  time,  both  in  the  improvement  and  embellish¬ 
ment  of  the  cemetery  generally,  and  of  private  lots. 
A  number  of  elegant  monuments  were  already  erected, 
and  others  were  in  progress.  It  was  a  novel  and 
rather  remarkable  sight  to  witness  cqstly  and  elabo¬ 
rate  monuments  erected  by  persons  who  were  still 
alive  and  well,  and  daily  on  the  streets  in  attend¬ 
ance  on  their  ordinary  business.  This  custom  of 
ante  mortem  preparation  for  death  was  formerly  rare, 
but  in  modern  times  has  become  more  common,  in 
consequence  of  the  greater  security  and  advantages 
afforded  by  well  regulated  cemeteries. 

It  is  a  question  not  unworthy  of  investigation, 
when  and  with  whom  did  the  idea  of  a  rural  ceme¬ 
tery  originate,  conforming  essentially  to  the  concep¬ 
tion  of  a  spacious  and  beautiful  rural  cemetery  as 
arranged  in  modern  times?  The  man  who  first 
brought  the  idea  into  practical  use  is  entitled  to  be 
enrolled  amongst  the  benefactors  of  his  race,  and 
deserves  an  enduring  monument  to  perpetuate  his 
fame. 

The  founder  and  patriarch  of  the  Hebrew  nation, 
who  lived  nearly  two  thousand  years  before  the 


14  The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

Christian  era,  seems  to  have  no  small  claim  to  this 
distinction.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  he  is  de¬ 
scribed  in  the  inspired  volume,  the  oldest  and  most 
truthful  of  all  history,  as  making  just  such  provision 
for  the  repose  of  the  bodies  of  his  family  and  descend¬ 
ants  as  is  contemplated  in  rural  cemeteries  of  the 
present  day.  On  the  death  of  his  wife  Sarah,  he 
determined  to  purchase  a  burying  place,  where  not 
only  his  beloved  wife,  but  himself  and  his  posterity 
for  long  ages  to  come,  might  be  buried  and  rest  in 
security.  After  a  careful  examination  of  the  country 
lying  west  of  the  river  Jordan  in  Palestine,  he  pur¬ 
chased  the  field  in  which  was  the  cave  of  Machpelah, 
for  a  stipulated  sum  of  money,  in  fee  simple,  and  in 
perpetuity ;  carefully  providing,  by  solemn  contract, 
that  the  trees  in  the  field,  and  all  the  trees  round 
about  the  border  of  the  field,  and  the  cave  itself, 
should  be  included  in  the  purchase,  and  stating  that 
it  was  bought  for  the  purpose  of  a  burying  place. 
And  the  same  history  informs  us  that  for  hundreds 
of  years  afterwards,  many  of  his  descendants,  and 
amongst  them  Isaac  and  Jacob,  were  gathered  from 
distant  lands  to  this  sacred  and  endeared  spot,  though 
his  race,  scattered  and  dispersed  over  the  world,  have 
to  this  day  mingled  their  dust  with  that  of  nearly 
every  other  nation  and  people  on  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

Knowing  what  we  do  of  the  character  of  this  noble 


Historical  Account. 


15 


man  of  antiquity,  this  favorite  of  Heaven,  this  pro¬ 
genitor  of  the  Redeemer  himself,  this  leader  and 
representative  of  a  nation  tracing  its  origin  hack  into 
the  twilight  of  past  ages,  and  still,  though  powerless 
and  humbled,  preserving  its  national  existence  and 
characteristics  down  to  the  present  time,  and  destined 
in  time  to  come  to  excel  in  power  and  glory  all  other 
nations  on  earth ;  it  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  the 
transaction  above  recited  was  regarded  as  one  of  no 
small  importance,  and  that  it  was  carried  out  on  a 
scale  of  magnificence  and  liberality  approaching  more 
nearly  to  the  completeness  of  modern  cemeteries  than 
is  generally  supposed. 

Dr.  Thomson,  in  his  book  on  the  Holy  Land  en¬ 
titled  “  The  Land  and  the  Book,”  published  in  1859, 
gives  a  minute  account  of  this  celebrated  field  and 
cave,  and  of  the  edifice  still  standing  over  it,  which 
he  states  bears  evidence  of  greater  antiquity  than 
anything  he  had  seen  in  that  country.  In  his  own 
strong  language,  he  regards  it  as  “  the  most  interest¬ 
ing  of  all  spots  on  the  face  of  the  earth,”  for  the 
reason  that  though  doubt  and  uncertainty  hang  over 
many  other  historic  points  in  the  Holy  Land,  there  is 
not  a  shadow  of  doubt  that  this  cave,  which  he  per¬ 
sonally  visited,  is  the  identical  cave  of  Machpelah,  and 
that  now,  after  the  lapse  of  nearly  four  thousand 
years,  and  notwithstanding  the  frequent  destructive 
wars  that  have  since  occurred  in  that  country  between 


16 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Jews  and  gentiles,  Mohammedans,  Christians  and 
pagans,  the  remains  of  Abraham  and  Sarah,  Isaac 
and  Rebekah,  Jacob  and  Leah,  and  others  of  their 
descendants,  still  repose  securely  in  it  to  this  day. 
Fortunate  indeed  and  wise  was  the  patriarch  in  his 
selection  and  purchase  of  this  field  of  Ephron,  with 
all  its  surroundings,  as  a  burying  place  and  cemetery 
for  himself  and  his  posterity.  “  The  name  and  fame 
of  Machpelah  and  its  distinguished  dead  have  ex¬ 
tended  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  will  continue  till 
the  end  of  time.” 

In  the  interval  of  years  between  1834  and  1842 
the  enterprise  of  establishing  a  rural  cemetery  in  this 
vicinity  was  at  no  time  lost  sight  of,  or  abandoned. 
During  a  part  of  this  time  there  was  great  depres¬ 
sion  and  stagnation  in  business  all  over  the  country, 
and  but  limited  means,  and  still  less  inclination  to 
embark  in  new  enterprises  of  any  kind. 

Continued  efforts  were  made  to  keep  alive  an  inter¬ 
est  in  the  subject  which  might  lead  finally  to  definite 
action.  Occasional  articles  from  different  writers 
were  published  in  the  newspapers,  advocating  the 
measure,  and  explaining  the  pernicious  consequences 
resulting  from  burying  the  dead  in  large  cities,  and 
frequent  notices  were  thrown  before  the  public  of  the 
progress  and  success  of  rural  cemeteries  in  other 
cities. 

Repeated  explorations  were  also  made  of  all  the 


Historical  Account. 


17 


sites  in  the  neighborhood  that  were  considered  suita¬ 
ble  or  available  for  the  purpose.  Though  several  of 
these  are  very  beautiful,  some  were  found,  on  exam¬ 
ination,  too  difficult  of  access,  and  others,  from  vari¬ 
ous  causes,  not  adapted  to  burial  purposes ;  until 
finally  the  farm  and  homestead  of  Col.  Bayard,  em¬ 
bracing  one  hundred  acres,  was  selected  as  in  all 
respects  the  most  desirable  location  in  the  vicinity. 
To  the  original  purchase,  several  other  tracts  have 
since  been  added,  bought  from  Mrs.  Dr.  Mowry, 
the  heirs  of  Bichard  Biddle,  William  Young,  Mrs. 
Semple  and  others,  making  the  entire  amount  of  the 
grounds  of  the  Cemetery,  at  this  date,  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Colwell  removed  from  Pitts¬ 
burgh  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  resided  till  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  within  the  last  year. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  rare  mental  and  literary  en¬ 
dowments,  and  of  liberal  views.  So  highly  were  his 
opinions  appreciated  in  regard  to  national  questions, 
that  he  was  repeatedly  summoned  to  Washington 
during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  by  the  head  of  the 
Treasury  department,  to  give  advice  in  matters  re¬ 
lating  to  revenue,  finance  and  the  tariff,  subjects 
which  he  had  made  his  special  study,  and  on  which 
he  has  written  several  elaborate  and  valuable  works. 

The  following  correspondence  took  place  some 
years  after  his  removal  from  amongst  us,  and  two 


18 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


years  previous  to  the  date  of  the  charter  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  and  shows  that  the  interest  he  felt  in  the 
establishment  of  a  rural  cemetery  in  our  vicinity, 
and  in  everything  relating  to  Pittsburgh,  remained 
unabated : 


Pittsburgh,  May  20,  1842. 
Stephen  Colwell,  Esq.  : 

Dear  Sir — For  some  years  past  it  has  been 
in  contemplation  to  purchase  a  suitable  quantity  of 
ground  to  establish  a  public  cemetery  for  the  use  of 
the  two  cities  of  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny,  on  the 
plan  recently  introduced  in  the  eastern  cities,  more 
especially  that  of  Mount  Auburn,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Boston.  You  will  no  doubt  recollect  our  frequent 
conversations  some  years  ago,  on  the  subject. 

The  present  reduced  prices  of  property  would  seem 
to  make  this  a  favorable  time  to  carry  out  the  pro¬ 
ject,  and  I  have  therefore  been  endeavoring  to  enlist 
the  public  mind  in  favor  of  it.  The  extreme  pressure 
of  the  times  will  no  doubt  present  difficulties,  hut 
still  I  have  hopes  that  it  may  be  accomplished,  and 
that  Pittsburgh,  like  Philadelphia  and  Boston,  will 
soon  have  an  appropriate  “  city  for  the  dead.” 

Several  of  your  friends  who  are  desirous  for  the 
success  of  the  enterprise,  will  he  gratified  to  receive 
from  you  any  information  you  may  think  would  he 
useful  in  carrying  it  out. 

We  would  he  glad  to  know  whether  the  cemeteries 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia  were  founded 
by  companies  or  by  individuals ; 


Historical  Account. 


19 


What  is  the  quantity  of  ground  belonging  to  each ; 

What  the  distance  from  the  city ; 

What  the  cost  per  acre  ; 

What  amount  of  money  has  been  expended  in 
fencing,  grading  and  embellishing  the  grounds ; 

What,  in  your  opinion,  would  be  the  quantity  of 
ground  necessary  for  such  a  purpose  here,  in  view  of 
the  future  growth  of  the  two  cities  ? 

How  are  lots  sold  ?  by  auction,  or  singly  as  called 
for  ?  What  is  their  size,  and  what  the  usual  price  ? 

What  the  expense  of  superintendence,  and  care  of 
grounds  ? 

Answers  to  the  above  inquiries,  and  all  other  in¬ 
formation  you  may  think  proper  to  communicate, 
or  an  essay  from  yourself,  or  any  well  written  arti¬ 
cles  that  may  have  been  written  by  others  on  the 
subject,  will  be  thankfully  received. 

Respectfully  and  truly  yours,  &c. 

James  R.  Speer. 


Philadelphia,  June  2,  1842. 

Dr.  J.  R.  Speer  : 

Dear  Sir — I  received  yours,  on  the  subject 
of  a  cemetery,  a  few  days  since.  I  have  since  been 
trying  to  collect  some  information  for  you,  but  my 
time  is  so  much  absorbed  I  cannot  do  much.  I  send 
you  the  charter  and  by-laws  of  the  Laurel  Hill  asso¬ 
ciation,  and  a  full  account  of  Mount  Auburn,  near 
Boston,  from  which  you  may  learn  a  reply  to  many 
of  your  inquiries.  Whatever  else  I  can  get,  I  will 
send. 


20 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


I  have  always  thought  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh 
presented  unusually  fine  sites  for  a  city  of  the  dead. 
Grounds  intended  for  this  purpose  should,  as  I  think, 
be  selected  with  as  great  a  variety  of  surface  as  possi¬ 
ble.  Near  Pittsburgh  you  can  find  situations  within 
view  of  the  city  and  of  one  or  both  rivers,  with  preci¬ 
pice,  slope,  level,  forest  and  open  ground.  There  is 
one  site  which  I  think  far  the  finest,  but  at  present 
it  is  inaccessible  for  such  a  purpose.  I  mean  the 
ravine  opposite  Manchester,  across  the  river,  em¬ 
bracing  Bailey’s  Springs,  running  from  the  river  to 
the  top  of  the  hill,  and  including  the  level  ground 
there.  One  of  the  finest  views  about  Pittsburgh  is 
on  the  brow  of  that  hill,  where,  if  you  have  not  been, 
you  should  hasten  the  first  moment  you  can. 

There  are  fine  sites  up  the  Allegheny  river.  The 
level  on  the  hill  opposite  the  upper  end  of  Bayards- 
town  ought  to  be  looked  at.  So,  out  the  Fourth  street 
road  there  are  various  places  lying  along  the  Mo- 
nongahela  river,  commencing  with  the  Beelen  farm. 
You  ought  to  have  at  least  fifty  acres — one  hundred 
would  be  better ;  and  the  greater  part  might  be  land 
not  fit  for  anything  else.  You  may  find  that  the 
most  unpromising  places  may  turn  out  best  on  exam¬ 
ination.  If  the  river  would  do  for  a  highway,  there 
are  many  sites  down  the  Ohio  below  Bailey’s  Springs. 
Look  at  the  ravine  above  McDonald’s  place  in  Bir¬ 
mingham.  I  beg  you  will  not  think  of  any  mere  level 
lot  of  ground. 

I  would  suggest  that  you  interest  B.  Biddle.  If 
you  can  get  him  fully  interested,  he  would  be  useful 
and  efficient.  By  the  way,  how  would  his  place,  back 


Historical  Account. 


21 


of  Mrs.  Mowry’s,  do,  if  he  would  part  with  it  ?  It 
has  many  of  the  requisites  in  a  high  degree,  prospect 
and  all. 

One  of  the  managers  of  the  Laurel  Hill  association 
remarked  to  me,  when  inquiring  about  the  matter, 
that  when  an  undertaking  of  the  kind  was  attempted, 
some  one  or  two  persons  of  leisure  and  taste  should 
devote  themselves  to  it  almost  entirely. 

I  throw  out  these  loose  suggestions  more  to  show 
my  willingness,  and  the  interest  I  take  in  all  that 
concerns  Pittsburgh,  than  from  any  value  they  can 
have.  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  visit  Pittsburgh  in 
July  or  August,  when  I  will  have  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  what  progress  you  have  made.  I  think  you 
are  moving  in  the  proper  time. 

Yours  truly,  Stephen  Colwell. 

In  the  spring  of  1844  several  meetings  were  held 
for  the  purpose  of  furthering  the  object,  at  which 
prominent  members  of  Trinity  Church  and  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  took  an  active  part.  The  two 
adjoining  lots  occupied  by  these  two  churches,  ex¬ 
tending  each  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  on  Sixth 
avenue  and  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  to  Virgin 
alley,  had  been  donated  to  them  in  the  year  1787  by 
John  Penn  and  others,  for  the  purpose  each  of  a 
church  and  burying  ground.  The  lot  lying  north 
of  these,  fronting  sixty  feet  on  Sixth  avenue  and 
two  hundred  and  forty  on  Wood  street,  was  a  subse¬ 
quent  purchase  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 


22 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


not  subject  to  the  same  conditions,  and  no  interments 
had  ever  been  made  on  it ;  consequently  the  great 
number  of  interments  made  from  1787  to  1844  had 
all  been  crowded  into  a  space,  after  deducting  that 
occupied  by  the  two  church  buildings,  considerably 
less  than  a  single  acre.  Indeed  so  densely  populated 
with  dead  bodies  had  these  grounds  become,  that  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  open  a  new  grave  without 
desecrating  the  remains  of  some  one  previously  in¬ 
terred.  For  more  than  half  a  century,  they  had  been 
the  depository  of  large  numbers  from  the  noted  and 
respectable  families  whose  names  are  associated  with 
the  early  history  of  the  city.  They  were,  therefore, 
the  object  of  deep  interest,  and  the  necessity  for  some 
new  arrangement  to  remedy  the  increasing  evil  had 
become  not  only  urgent  but  imperative. 

On  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1844,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Wood 
street,  at  which  the  Fev.  Francis  Herron  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  Samuel  P.  Johnston  appointed 
secretary.  The  subject  of  the  condition  of  the 
graveyard  connected  with  the  church,  and  the  ne¬ 
cessity  of  procuring  another  site  as  a  burying  ground, 
was  discussed ;  and  with  the  hope  of  leading  to  a 
more  general  movement  on  the  subject,  and  the 
adoption  of  some  plan  that  should  be  creditable  to 
the  public  enterprise  of  the  place,  the  following  reso¬ 
lutions  were  offered  by  Dr.  J.  P.  Speer,  and  adopted : 


Historical  Account. 


23 


Resolved ,  That  the  graveyard  connected  with  the 
church  being  now  filled  with  dead  bodies,  so  that  no 
more  interments  can  conveniently  he  made,  it  is 
expedient  that  some  suitable  place  be  procured  for  a 
burying  ground. 

Resolved ,  That  this  congregation,  fully  convinced  of 
the  many  and  weighty  objections  to  the  practice  of 
interring  the  dead  in  populous  and  crowded  cities, 
and  of  the  superior  advantages  of  the  plan  of  public 
cemeteries ,  located  without  their .  limits,  as  adopted 
within  the  last  few  years  by  all  the  eastern  cities 
of  the  country,  will  cheerfully  co-operate  in  any 
general  effort  to  establish  a  public  cemetery,  under 
suitable  regulations,  and  on  a  scale  calculated  to 
meet  the  present  and  future  wants  of  the  com¬ 
munity. 

Resolved ,  That  a  committee  of  three  persons  be 
appointed,  consisting  of  Dr.  J.  R.  Speer,  F.  Lorenz, 
Esq.,  and  Wm.  Robinson,  Jr.,  Esq.,  to  report  such 
plan  as  it  may  be  advisable  to  pursue  in  regard  to 
the  subject. 

Shortly  afterwards,  in  pursuance  of  public  notice, 
a  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  in  Philo  Hall,  to 
consider  in  regard  to  the  establishment  of  a  public 
cemetery.  The  Rev.  A.  D.  Campbell  was  called  to 
chair,  and  T.  J.  Bigham  appointed  secretary. 

On  motion,  Thomas  Bakewell,  William  Eichbaum, 
Wilson  McCandless,  Frederick  Lorenz  and  Dr.  J. 
R.  Speer  were  appointed  to  report  resolutions  for  the 
acceptance  of  the  meeting.  The  committee  retired. 


24 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


and  after  some  time  reported  the  following  reso¬ 
lutions  : 

Whereas,  the  practice  of  interment  in  populous 
cities  is  in  many  respects  incompatible  with  due 
regard  to  the  memory  of  our  departed  friends,  and 
attended  with  circumstances  distressing  to  the  feel¬ 
ings  of  surviving  relations,  and  is  moreover  accom¬ 
panied  with  consequences  highly  injurious  to  the 
salubrity  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  burying 
grounds  are  located ;  and, 

Whereas,  the  present  opportunity  is  favorable  for 
the  establishment  of  a  rural  cemetery,  inasmuch  as 
several  tracts  of  land  of  sufficient  extent,  and  suitable 
location  for  this  purpose,  at  convenient  distances  from 
the  city,  and  of  easy  access  from  the  public  roads, 
are  offered  for  sale  at  moderate  prices,  and  on  favor¬ 
able  terms;  and, 

Whereas,  experience  has  proved,  that  in  all  cases 
where  .such  cemeteries  have  been  judiciously  located, 
and  properly  conducted,  they  have  been  alike  pro¬ 
ductive  of  general  convenience,  and  individual  ad¬ 
vantage.  Therefore, 

Resolved ,  That  a  committee  composed  of  five  mem¬ 
bers  be  appointed  to  prepare  articles  of  association, 
and  obtain  an  act  of  incorporation  for  a  cemetery,  to 
be  situated  within  four  miles  of  the  city  containing 
not  less  than  fifty  nor  more  than  one  hundred  acres  ; 
and  report  a  name  or  names. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  on  this 
committee :  Richard  Biddle,  Esq.,  Hon.  R.  C.  Grier, 


MOORHEAD  MAUSOLEUM. 


I 

Historical  Account.  25 

Thomas  Bakewell,  William  Robinson,  Esq.,  and 
Rey.  Robert  Dunlap. 

Resolved ,  That  a  committee  of  nine  members  be 
appointed,  to  receive  proposals  for  the  purchase  of  a 
lot  of  ground  suitable  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
such  Cemetery. 

The  following  persons  were  appointed  on  this 
committee  :  Thomas  Bakewell,  Dr.  James  R.  Speer, 
T.  J.  Bigham,  John  Freeman,  Thomas  M.  Howe, 
John  Chislett,  Dr.  H.  D.  Sellers,  E.  W.  Stephens 
and  William  J.  Totten. 

Resolved ,  That  a  committee  of  fifteen  members  be 
appointed,  to  obtain  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  a 
company  for  carrying  the  previous  resolutions  into 
effect. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members 
appointed  on  this  committee :  F  rederick  Lorenz, 
Charles  Avery,  George  Hogg,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 
John  Bissell,  H.  Sterling,  William  Eichbaum,  Jacob 
Painter,  Charles  Brown,  Dr.  William  Kerr,  F.  G. 
Bailey,  R.  S.  Cassett,  William  Lippincott,  E.  D. 
Gazzam  and  H.  Childs. 

Resolved ,  That  the  above  committees,  except  the 
first,  be  requested  to  report  to  a  meeting  to  be  held  at 
such  time  and  place  as  the  chairman  of  this  meeting 
shall  designate,  and  that  the  committee  under  the 
first  resolution  be  instructed  to  report  to  an  adjourned 

3 


26 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


meeting  to  be  held  on  Monday  evening  next,  April 
8  th. 

These  proceedings  were  ordered  to  he  published  in 
all  the  newswapers  of  the  city. 

From  the  Gazette  and  Advertiser  of  April  8th, 
1844,  the  proceedings  of  the  next  and  final  meeting 
are  copied. 

“  Public  Cemetery. 

“  An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh 
to  consult  in  regard  to  the  establishment  of  a  public 
Cemetery  was  held  at  the  Board  of  Trade  rooms, 
Col.  William  Robinson  being  appointed  chairman, 
and  T.  J.  Bighain,  secretary. 

Bichard  Biddle,  from  a  committee  appointed  at  a 
former  meeting,  reported  a  memorial  to  the  Legis¬ 
lature,  and  the  draft  of  a  proposed  act  of  incorpo¬ 
ration.  These  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  directed 
to  be  forwarded  to  Harrisburg,  for  the  action  of  the 
Legislature. 

The  following  names  were  added  to  those  of  the 
committee  previously  appointed,  to  constitute  the 
first  Board  of  Corporators  :  Hon.  Wilson  McCandless, 
Hon.  Thomas  Irwin,  Hon.  Harmar  Denny,  George  W. 
Jackson,  Josiah  King,  Charles  Brewer,  James  S. 
Craft,  George  Ogden,  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Pollard 
McCormick,  James  Laughlin,  Robert  Beer  and  John 
D.  McCord. 

The  proceedings  were  directed  to  be  published  in 
all  the  city  papers. 

Wm.  Robinson,  President. 

T.  J.  Bigham,  Secretary  A 


Historical  Account. 


27 


The  Act  of  Incorporation  was  promptly  passed  by 
the  Legislature,  without  objection,  and  returned  with 
the  approval  of  Gov.  David  R.  Porter,  dated 
April  24th,  1844. 

To  no  one  more  competent  and  reliable  could  the 
responsible  duty  of  drafting  the  charter  of  the  com¬ 
pany  have  been  entrusted  than  to  the  Hon.  Richard 
Biddle,  a  gentleman  widely  known  as  a  learned  and 
able  lawyer ;  and  to  his  legal  experience  and  forecast 
it  is  largely  indebted  for  the  wise  and  careful  provi¬ 
sions  it  contains,  tersely  and  clearly  expressed,  by 
which  important  rights  have  been  secured,  and  diffi¬ 
culties  and  embarrassments  avoided,  which  have  re¬ 
tarded  or  frustrated  the  success  of  similar  undertak¬ 
ings  in  other  cities. 

When  charters  are  granted  by  the  State  for  ordi¬ 
nary  purposes  or  enterprises,  they  are  generally 
limited  to  a  certain  time,  and  the  right  is  reserved 
to  annul  or  revoke,  on  certain  conditions.  Under  au¬ 
thority  of  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
State  in  1857,  this  right  has  been  more  frequently 
exercised  by  the  Legislature  than  in  former  years. 

The  charter  of  the  Allegheny  Cemetery  is  not 
limited  in  time,  nor  does  it  contain  any  clause  re¬ 
serving  the  right  to  revoke  the  privileges  granted. 
If  it  be  asked  why  this  is  so,  it  may  be  answered, 
that  the  field  of  its  operation  is  as  extensive  as  the 
ravages  of  death,  and  that  the  time  when  they  will 


28 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


cease  will  be  the  end  of  time  itself.  These  are 
important  features  of  the  charter,  as  we  believe  it  is 
conceded  that  there  is  no  power  in  the  Legislature, 
or  any  other  tribunal  in  the  land,  to  recall  or  annul 
rights  once  vested  in  a  corporation,  unless  it  be  with 
the  consent  of  the  corporation  itself,  or  on  account 
of  the  violation  of  stipulated  conditions.  The  charter 
is  therefore  perpetual,  and  the  rights  and  privileges 
conferred  by  it  are  irrevocable. 

In  regard  to  the  charter  of  the  Allegheny  Ceme¬ 
tery,  it  is  the  opinion  of  several  of  the  most  eminent 
lawyers  of  the  State,  that  it  is  a  binding  contract  be¬ 
tween  the  State  and  the  company,  the  one  agreeing 
to  confer  certain  rights  and  privileges,  and  the  other, 
in  consideration,  to  perform  certain  acts  and  duties 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  public,  and  that  its 
validity  cannot  be  impaired,  either  by  courts  or  le¬ 
gislatures. 

The  way  being  now  fairly  opened,  it  was  resolved 
to  proceed  with  energy  and  determination  in  accom¬ 
plishing  a  work  intended  not  only  to  confer  lasting 
benefits  on  the  community,  but  one  in  accordance 
also  with  an  innate  sentiment  of  human  nature, 
deeply  implanted  in  the  breast  of  all  nations,  ancient 
and  modern,  barbarous  and  civilized,  prompting 
them,  under  different  modes  and  forms,  to  show 
profound  respect  and  veneration  to  the  remains  and 
memories  of  the  dead.  This  sentiment  was  manifested 


Historical  Account. 


29 


by  the  intense  desire  expressed  by  Joseph  and  his 
ancestors  to  be  carried  back  from  the  land  of  Egypt 
and  to  be  buried  by  the  side  of  their  kindred  in  the 
land  of  Canaan;  by  the  pyramids  of  Egypt,  with 
the  embalmed  and  royal  dead  they  contain ;  by  the 
costly  monuments  and  cenotaphs  of  all  nations  ;  and 
even  by  the  mounds  and  tumuli  of  the  barbarous 
tribes  on  our  own  continent,  over  which  sturdy  oaks 
have  waved  their  foliage  for  centuries  past. 

Kindred  to  this  feeling  of  veneration  for  the  dead, 
is  the  laudable  desire  of  every  virtuous  mind  to  live 
on,  even  after  life  shall  have  ended,  not  alone  in  epi¬ 
taph  on  cold  and  heartless  marble  or  stone,  to  be  seen 
and  read  by  the  few,  but  in  the  affectionate  remem¬ 
brance  and  regard  of  those  that  are  left  behind. 

“For  who,  to  dumb  forgetfulness  a  prey, 

This  pleasing,  anxious  being  ere  resigned, 

Left  the  warm  precincts  of  the  cheerful  day, 

Nor  cast  one  longing,  lingering  look  behind?” 

The  following  is  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  provisions 
of  the  Charter : 

By  the  first  section  it  legalizes,  as  a  body  politic 
and  in  law,  a  number  of  gentlemen,  designated  cor¬ 
porators,  selected  from  amongst  the  friends  and  pa¬ 
trons  of  the  enterprise,  and  confers  on  them  the  right 
of  perpetual  succession. 

The  second  section  defines  the  manner  of  securing 
its  perpetual  existence,  viz.,  by  annual  election  to  fill 


30 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


vacancies  that  may  occur  from  death  or  otherwise. 
It  also  gives  full  power  to  ordain,  establish  and  put 
in  operation  all  such  laws,  rules  and  regulations  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  proper  government  of  the 
corporation,  making  in  fact  such  by-laws,  rules  and 
regulations,  as  binding  in  law  as  the  charter  itself, 
provided  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of 
the  State  or  of  the  United  States. 

The  third  section  provides  for  the  annual  election 
of  a  board  of  managers,  president,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  prescribes  the  duties  usually  per¬ 
formed  by  these  officers. 

Having  thus  prescribed  the  plan  of  organization  of 
the  company,  and  by  a  subsequent  section  given  the 
power  to  appoint  all  other  officers,  agents  and  work¬ 
men  that  may  be  necessary,  and  to  fix  their  wages  or 
compensation,  section  fourth  gives  the  right  to  pur¬ 
chase  a  tract  of  land  suitable  to  the  purposes  of  a 
Cemetery,  and  to  lay  out  and  divide  and  arrange  it 
into  burial  lots,  and  to  adapt  and  ornament  the 
ground  for  that  purpose,  and  to  sell  plots  and  lots 
in  fee  simple,  or  otherwise,  without  distin  ction  or  re¬ 
gard  to  sect,  provided  that  they  shall  be  used  for  no 
other  purpose  than  that  of  sepulture,  and  that  in  the 
hands  of  purchasers  they  shall  be  free  from  seizure , 
levy  or  sale. 

Another  section  provides,  in  relation  to  the 
grounds  of  the  Cemetery  generally,  that  no  street, 


Historical  Account. 


31 


lane  or  road  shall  ever  be  laid  out  through  the  lands 
so  occupied  as  a  Cemetery,  except  under  the  authority 
of  the  corporation,  and  that  they  shall  be  free  from 
taxation . 

Finally,  by  a  crowning  act  of  wisdom  and  forecast, 
it  not  only  provides,  but  requires ,  that  from  the  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  the  sales  of  lots,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
managers  to  create  and  set  apart  a  fund  to  be  invested 
in  ground  rents  and  mortgages,  the  income  of  which 
shall  be  adequate,  and  shall  be  applied  to  the  im¬ 
provement  and  perpetual  maintenance  of  the  Ceme¬ 
tery  in  proper  order  and  security  for  all  future  time, 
even  after  every  acre  shall  have  been  sold,  if  that 
time  shall  ever  come. 

In  addition  to  this  fund,  designed  especially  for 
the  perpetual  maintenance  of  the  buildings,  inclos¬ 
ures,  roads  and  avenues  of  the  Cemetery,  for  which  a 
large  sum  has  already  been  set  apart,  and  will  be 
increased  as  necessity  may  require,  authority  has  also 
been  given  by  subsequent  legislation,  to  create  a  sep¬ 
arate  and  distinct  fund,  called  the  “  Endowment 
Fund/’  from  the  proceeds  of  property,  or  the  interest 
of  money  donated  by  lot-holders,  and  deposited  with 
the  company,  the  interest  of  which  shall  be  applied 
as  they  may  direct,  to  the  care,  and  keeping  in  order, 
of  their  individual  lots. 

The  company  is  constituted  the  responsible  trustee 
of  both  these  important  funds.  Under  this  latter 


32 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


provision  there  is  a  binding  and  perpetual  agreement 
on  the  part  of  the  company  to  expend  in  labor  and 
care  on  the  lots  described,  the  annual  interest  of  the 
sum  deposited,  in  the  manner  desired  by  the  depos¬ 
itor.  But  in  case  a  lot-holder  does  not  desire  to  adopt 
this  plan,  another  is  placed  at  his  option,,  by  paying 
annually  a  moderate  sum,  proportioned  to  the  size  of 
the  lot,  and  the  labor  necessary  to  keep  it  in  order. 
The  objections  to  this  last  arrangement  are,  that  it  is 
temporary  in  its  nature,  and  liable  to  cease  with  the 
life  of  the  lot-holder,  or  by  his  removal  elsewhere,  or 
the  transfer  of  his  lot  to  another  person,  or  a  failure 
to  give  personal  attention  to  his  lot  and  pay  bills  for 
work  ordered.  For  these  reasons  the  attention  of 
lot-holders  is  specially  called  to  the  superior  advan¬ 
tages  of  the  endowment  plan,  as  providing  more  cer¬ 
tainly  for  all  necessary  care  and  attention  to  their 
lots,  and  superseding  the  necessity  of  after  payment 
for  work  done. 

The  only  apparent  defect  in  the  charter  and  sup¬ 
plements  recited,  is  the  absence  of  suitable  penalties 
for  the  violation  of  its  provisions.  This  defect  has 
since  been  supplied  by  a  general  law  of  the  State  en¬ 
titled  “  An  Act  to  Protect  Burial  Grounds/’  whether 
public  or  private,  incorporated  or  not  incorporated, 
dated  May  7th,  1855.  This  act  imposes  a  penalty  of 
from  one  to  five  hundred  dollars,  and  imprisonment 
in  the  county  jail,  or  penitentiary,  from  one  to  three 


BRUNOT,  BREADING 


Historical  Account. 


33 


years,  on  any  person  who  shall  clandestinely  or  un¬ 
lawfully  open  any  tomb  or  grave,  and  remove  there¬ 
from  any  human  body,  or  any  part  thereof.  It  also 
imposes  a  fine  of  from  five  to  fifty  dollars  on  any 
person  who  shall  wilfully  destroy,  mutilate  or  deface, 
injure  or  remove  any  tomb,  monument,  grave-stone, 
or  other  structure,  or  shall  wilfully  destroy,  cut,  break 
or  remove  any  tree,  shrub  or  plant  within  the  limits 
of  such  grounds. 

Taken  in  connection  with  the  enactments  of  the 
charter,  the  above  provisions  seem  to  leave  nothing 
further  to  be  desired  in  order  to  carry  out  success¬ 
fully  the  designs  and  purposes  of  the  company.  They 
fully  meet  every  requirement  of  security ,  perpetuity 
and  adornment. 

Within  these  grounds,  which  nature  and  art  have 
combined  to  render  beautiful  and  attractive,  the  man 
of  wealth  and  means  may  gratify  his  tastes,  and  honor 
the  memory  of  his  departed  friends,  by  the  erection 
of  costly  monuments  and  improvements,  in  confident 
security  that  they  will  never  be  marred  or  defaced, 
unless  it  be  by  the  all-destroying  hand  of  time ; 
while,  with  a  tender  regard  for  the  feelings  and  in¬ 
terests  of  the  indigent  and  poor,  every  man  who  be¬ 
comes  the  owner  of  a  lot  within  their  bounds,  is 
assured,  that  whatever  claims  adversity  or  misfortune 
may  compel  him  to  leave  uncancelled  when  he  is 
called  from  this  world,  the  sacred  spot  that  will  con- 


34 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


tain  his  remains  will  never  be  disturbed,  and  that 
over  his  grave  the  living  spirit  and  genius  of  this 
charter  will  stand  like  a  faithful  sentinel,  persona¬ 
ting  the  power  and  authority  of  the  Commonwealth, 
to  guard  it  by  night  and  by  day  against  relentless 
exactions  of  the  civil  law,  or  the  lawless  hand  of  man. 

We  are  aware  that  similar  enterprises  have  been 
organized  in  other  parts  of  the  country  on  the 
principle  of  stock  companies,  for  the  professed  purpose 
of  caring  for  the  dead,  when  the  real  object  has  been 
pecuniary  profit  to  the  stockholders.  Public  senti¬ 
ment  has  compelled  sundry  of  these  companies  to 
abandon  the  ground  they  had  at  first  taken,  and 
change  their  plans,  and  others  have  failed  of  suc¬ 
cess.  The  idea  of  pecuniary  gain,  or  speculation,  has 
not  at  any  time  entered  into  the  minds  of  the  pro¬ 
jectors  of  the  Allegheny  Cemetery.  Their  aims 
and  purposes  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  time 
have  been  neither  pecuniary ,  sectarian  or  selfish ,  but 
in  all  respects  liberal  and  humane,  looking  only  to  the 
public  welfare  and  public  benefaction.  This  prin¬ 
ciple  was  distinctly  avowed  in  a  resolution  offered  by 
Gen.  Howe,  and  unanimously  adopted  at  one  of  the 
earliest  meetings  of  the  managers,  and  before  a  single 
lot  had  been  sold ;  and  much  of  the  success  of  the 
enterprise  is  due  to  its  strict  observance  to  the  pres¬ 
ent  time. 

The  resolution  indeed  goes  much  further,  however, 


Historical  Account. 


35 


than  the  assertion  of  this  fundamental  principle.  It 
provides  that  the  entire  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  lots 
shall  he  appropriated,  first,  to  the  extinguishment  of 
the  debt  incurred  by  the  purchase  of  the  property ; 
next,  in  improving  and  ornamenting  the  grounds  ; 
and  lastly,  to  the  creation  of  a  permanent  fund, 
sufficient  to  keep  the  ground  in  good  order  through 
all  time  to  come ;  but,  in  order  to  provide  against  the 
contingency  that  after  these  objects  had  been  accom¬ 
plished  a  surplus  might  remain,  it  provides  that  such 
surplus  shall  be  devoted  to  “ philanthropic  and 
charitable  uses.” 

It  may  here  be  stated,  that  with  the  exception  of 
the  few  salaried  officers  and  agents  who  attend  to 
the  details  of  its  business,  no  member  or  officer  of  the 
corporation  has  ever  received  any  compensation  or 
emolument  whatever  for  the  time  and  services  de¬ 
voted  to  its  management,  though  they  have  been  freely 
and  cheerfully  given  for  a  period  of  time  extending 
over  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  They  desire 
no  compensation  but  the  satisfaction  that  arises  from 
the  complete  success  of  an  undertaking  which  they 
believe  will  be  regarded  with  favor  and  approbation, 
not  only  by  the  present,  but  by  the  generations  that 
will  come  after  them.  Their  chief  concern  is  so  to 
regulate  and  manage  the  business  of  the  institution 
in  its  different  departments,  during  their  connection 
with  it,  that  in  the  hands  of  their  successors  its  char- 


36 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


tered  rights  will  be  preserved,  its  funds  carefully* 
guarded,  and  its  affairs  conducted  with  disinterested 
regard  to  the  objects  for  which  it  was  founded. 

The  company  has  been  doubly  fortunate  in  the 
purchase  of  their  lands.  They  were  bought  originally 
in  separate  parcels  and  from  different  owners,  at  mo¬ 
derate  rates,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  $118,500, 
but  if  estimated  by  recent  sales  of  adjoining  property, 
could  not  be  purchased  at  the  present  time  for  less 
than  one  million,  perhaps  one  and  a  half  million 
dollars. 

They  have  also  been  fortunate  in  regard  to  the 
character  of  the  grounds  purchased.  Many  sites 
otherwise  favorable  would  be  unfit  for  the  purpose, 
if  underlaid  with  a  clayey,  tenacious  deposit,  prevent¬ 
ing  the  percolation  of  moisture  downwards,  or  evapo¬ 
ration  from  the  surface.  The  soil  is  of  a  sandy  and 
porous  nature,  and  the  grounds  in  all  respects  ad¬ 
mirably  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  sepulture,  and  in 
keeping  with  modern  taste  and  sentiment  in  regard 
to  rural  cemeteries. 

With  the  exception  of  the  ocean,  bay  and  city  views 
at  Greenwood,  New  York,  which  are  no  wjbere  else  to 
be  found  combined,  we  do  not  believe  there  is  any 
other  locality  in  the  country  where  all  the  essential 
requisites  of  a  rural  cemetery  are  present  in  a  higher 
degree  of  perfection  than  in  the  grounds  of  the  Alle¬ 
gheny  Cemetery.  Indeed  the  panorama  often  pre- 


Historical  Account. 


37 


sented  to  the  eye  from  some  of  its  highest  points,  on 
a  calm  summer  or  autumn  evening,  is  surpassingly 
beautiful ;  especially  on  a  Sunday  evening,  when  the 
countless  fires  and  furnaces  of  the  workshop  city  are 
extinguished  in  deference  to  the  sacredness  of  the  day, 
and  their  huge  columns  of  smoke  cease  for  a  time  to 
darken  the  air ;  when  the  sun  is  seen  sinking  in  the 
west  behind  golden  clouds  that  gild  his  pathway,  the 
hold  hills  on  the  opposite  hanks  of  the  Allegheny 
and  Monongahela  hemming  in  their  waters  as  they 
glide  along  to  join  the  Ohio,  and  travel  in  company 
with  it  two  thousand  miles  through  the  peerless  val¬ 
leys  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Within  the  range  of  the  eyes  from  these  grounds  lies 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  containing  with  its  surround¬ 
ing  cities  and  villages  two  hundred  thousand  inhab¬ 
itants,  and  destined  in  the  prophetic  vision  of 
Washington,  long  before  the  era  of  canals  and  rail 
roads  commenced,  to  become  the  key  from  the  east 
to  the  west,  and  from  the  boundless  west  to  the  east. 
Our  rivers  and  rail  roads  have  since  converted  this 
prophecy  into  history. 

At  a  still  nearer  distance  from  the  north-western  side 
of  the  Cemetery  is  Wain wright’s  Island,  adjoining  the 
river  front  of  the  United  States  Arsenal,  linked  also 
by  a  thrilling  incident  to  the  name  of  the  father  of 
his  country.  It  is  a  memorable  fact,  that  on  two 
occasions  in  the  early  history  of  this  great  man,  his 


88 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


life  was  placed  in  imminent  danger  in  this  immediate 
vicinity.  In  the  bloody  and  disastrous  defeat  of 
Braddock’s  Fields  he  miraculously  escaped,  unscathed 
by  the  arrows  or  bullets  of  the  savage  foe,  and  in 
the  instance  to  be  mentioned,  encountered  a  danger 
no  less  threatening,  from  an  ice-flood  in  the  Alle¬ 
gheny  river. 

He  had  been  sent  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia  on 
a  tour  of  inspection  amongst  the  Indians  in  the  region 
of  country  near  Franklin  and  Erie.  On  his  return 
towards  Pittsburgh,  arriving  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
river,  he  found  its  swollen  stream  covered  with  huge 
cakes  of  floating  ice.  As  there  was  no  possible 
means  of  conveyance  at  that  early  day,  he  constructed 
a  fail  bark  with  his  own  hands,  of  such  materials  as 
he  found  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  under  the 
guidance  of  a  kind  Providence  that  shaped  his  path 
in  after  life,  worked  his  way,  at  great  hazard,  across 
the  rapid  current,  drifting  obliquely  downwards 
through  the  ice,  till  he  landed  in  safety  on  the  head 
of  that  island.  Who  does  not  shudder  at  the  bare 
thought  of  the  calamities  that  might  have  befallen 
our  country,  if  the  life  of  Washington  had  been  lost 
in  that  perilous  adventure  ? 

Taking  into  consideration  the  natural  attractions 
of  the  grounds  of  the  Cemetery  and  the  interesting 
reminiscences  connected  with  Fort  Duquesne  and 
Fort  Pitt,  and  the  various  wars  and  revolutions  by 


Historical  Account. 


39 


which  this  important  point  had  passed  successively 
under  Indian,  French  and  English  rule  and  author¬ 
ity  before  the  war  of  independence,  they  become 
invested  with  a  high  degree  of  classic  and  historic 
interest. 

In  point  of  surface,  the  grounds  are  not  level,  and 
yet  not  too  hilly  and  rugged.  The  parts  least  avail¬ 
able  for  present  use  are  invaluable  for  ornament  and 
rural  scenery.  Of  this  description  is  a  tongue  of  land 
running  from  the  east  corner  of  the  Cemetery  along 
the  Morning-Side  road  towards  East  Liberty.  It 
was  purchased  from  the  heirs  of  the  Hon.  Richard 
Biddle,  who  bought  it  many  years  since  on  account 
of  his  fondness  for  that  kind  of  scenery,  and  in  order 
to  secure  the  control  of  a  deep  ]  avine  or  gully,  from 
which  the  hills  rise  to  the  height  of  three  hundred 
feet  on  either  side.  They  are  covered  with  native 
forest  trees,  and  in  the  season  of  foliage  present  a  rare 
specimen  of  sylvan  and  rural  beauty.  The  pensive 
murmur  of  gentle  winds  in  pleasant  weather  and  their 
loud  and  harsh  roar  in  days  of  storm,  are  in  striking 
contrast  with  the  chorus  of  the  winged  tenants  that 
nestle  in  their  branches. 

As  a  whole,  the  grounds  are  diversified  with  hill 
and  ravine,  valley,  brook  and  lake,  all  so  happily 
blended  and  arranged  as  to  admit  of  the  highest  im¬ 
provement,  and  to  gratify  all  lovers  of  the  beauties  of 
nature,  whether  she  be  clothed  in  her  summer  vesture 


40 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


of  foliage  and  flowers,  and  animated  with  the  melody 
of  cheerful  birds,  or  in  the  snow-white  winding-sheet 
of  winter,  and  saddened  with  the  moaning  sounds 
of  chilly  winds  passing  through  the  leafless  forest. 
These  changes  in  the  face  of  nature  will  continue  al¬ 
ternately  to  recur,  as  long  as  seedtime  and  harvest 
return ;  hut  the  harvest  of  death  is  confined  to  no 
season  and  no  clime.  On  these  grounds  the  ripe  fruit 
and  the  faded  leaf  of  human  growth  will  fall  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  he  gathered  into  their  silent 
chambers,  there  to  await  the  mysterious  change  hy 
which  this  corruptible  body  will  put  on  incorruption 
and  this  mortal  will  be  clothed  with  an  immortal 
existence.  This  profound  mystery  meets  and  con¬ 
fronts  us  at  the  gates  of  the  cemetery,  and  nt  the 
grave’s  mouth.  It  defies  the  scrutiny  of  human 
philosophy  and  human  wisdom,  and  can  only  be 
solved  and  explained  by  the  mission  to  earth  of  that 
celestial  Personage,  whose  birth,  life,  miracles,  death 
and  resurrection  were  all  inscrutable  mysteries,  yet 
all  incontestable  facts ;  whose  divine  nature  resisted 
and  withstood  the  destroying  power  of  death  and  the 
grave,  and  whose  sublime  teachings  have  opened  up 
to  mortal  man  life  and  immortality  beyond  the  pre¬ 
sent  life,  and  instructed  him  how  he  may  regain  an 
inheritance  in  that  upper  world  infinitely  greater  and 
grander  than  the  Paradise  that  he  lost  by  the  fall. 

The  following  lines  from  Blair’s  poem  on  the  Grave, 


Historical  Account. 


41 


slightly  abridged,  are  too  beautiful  and  appropriate 
to  be  omitted  in  this  connection.  The  gifted  poet 
eloquently  portrays  man’s  humble  and  lowly  exit 
from  this  life,  his  temporary  abode  in  the  grave,  and 
the  final  re-union  of  his  material  and  immaterial 
natures,  his  soul  and  body,  reorganized  and  ani¬ 
mated  with  new  energies  and  capacities,  adapted  to  a 
higher  and  endless  state  of  existence  in  the  world 
to  come. 


“  The  time  draws  on 
When  not  a  single  spot  of  burial  earth, 

Whether  on  land  or  on  the  spacious  sea, 

But  must  give  back  its  long  committed  dust 
Inviolate.  .  .  .  Not  the  least  atom 

Embezzled  or  mislaid  of  the  whole  frame. 

Each  soul  shall  have  a  body  ready  furnished, 

And  each  shall  have  its  own. 

Ask  not  how  this  can  be?  Sure  the  same  power 
That  reared  the  piece  at  first,  and  took  it  down, 

Can  reassemble  the  loose  scattered  parts, 

And  put  them  as  they  were.  Almighty  God 
Has  done  much  more,  and  what  he  can  he  will ; 

His  faithfulness  stands  bound  to  see  it  done. 

When  the  dread  trumpet  sounds,  the  slumbering  dust 
(Not  inattentive  to  the  call)  shall  wake, 

And  every  part  possess  its  proper  place, 

With  a  new  elegance  of  form  unknown 
To  its  first  state.  Nor  shall  the  conscious  soul 
Mistake  its  partner,  but  amidst  the  crowd 
Singling  its  other  half,  shall  rush  into  its  arms. 

Thrice  happy  meeting, 

Nor  time  nor  death  shall  shall  ever  part  them  more. 

’Tis  but  a  night,  a  long  and  moonless  night; 

We  make  the  grave  our  bed,  and  then  are  gone. 

Thus  at  the  shut  of  even,  the  weary  bird 
Leaves  the  wide  air,  and  in  some  lonely  brake 
Cowers  down  and  dozes  till  the  dawn  of  day, 

Then  claps  its  well-fledged  wings  and  bears  away.” 

4 


42 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Man  is  a  complex  being,  stamped  with  the  image 
of  his  Creator,  born  to  live  two  lives,  and  to  inhabit 
two  worlds ;  possessed  of  intellectual  faculties  that 
rank  him  far  above  his  present  condition,  and  only 
a  little  lower  than  the  angels ;  and  yet  he  is  clogged 
with  defects  and  infirmities  that  are  constantly  tend¬ 
ing  to  impair  or  destroy  both  bodily  and  mental 
powers,  and  to  drag  him  down  to  the  earth  from 
which  he  was  taken ;  and  surely  if  there  is  a  spot  on 
this  broad  earth  more  favorable  than  all  others,  save 
the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High,  for  thoughtful  reflec¬ 
tion  on  these  strange  and  opposite  conditions  of  his 
nature,  to  a  calm  survey  of  his  past  life,  and  a  ration¬ 
al  outlook  into  the  world  to  which  he  aspires  ;  to  a 
serious  consideration  of  the  relations  he  bears  to  his 
Creator  and  to  his  fellow  beings,  and  the  duties  he 
owes  to  each,  that  hallowed  spot  is  to  be  found 
amongst  the  memorials  of  the  dead,  and  in  the  se¬ 
cluded  walks  and  retreats  of  the  Cemetery. 

Another  poet,  in  the  fervor  of  his  wonder  and 
amazement,  while  contemplating  these  momentous 
themes,  exclaims  : 

“  Oil,  wliat  a  mystery  to  man  is  man  ! 

Midway  from  nothing  to  the  Deity  ! 

An  heir  of  glory.  A  frail  child  of  dust ! 

An  angel’s  arm  can’t  snatch  him  from  the  grave, — • 

Legions  of  angels  can’t  confine  him  there.” 

In  looking  over  tne  past  history  of  the  enterprise, 


Historical  Account. 


43 


many  circumstances  have  transpired,  calculated  to 
afford  encouragement  and  satisfaction  to  those  who 
have  nursed  and  carried  it  through  the  dangerous 
age  of  infancy  to  its  present  advanced  maturity. 

It  has  fully  met  an  evident  want  and  necessity  in 
this  large  and  growing  community. 

It  has  already  risen  in  public  estimation  to  the 
rank  of  a  highly  useful  institution,  and  is  considered 
by  all  an  ornament  and  honor  to  the  city. 

It  has  done  much  by  the  influence  it  has  exerted 
on  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  to  aid  in  in¬ 
troducing  the  modern  and  improved  system  of  rural 
cemeteries,  adapted  to  the  wants  of  different  com¬ 
munities.  The  condition  of  many  of  the  small,  neg¬ 
lected  and  dilapidated  grave-yards,  attached  to 
churches  all  over  the  country,  overgrown  with  briars 
and  weeds,  and  often  infected  with  vermin,  is  truly 
deplorable,  but  it  may  reasonably  be  expected  that 
many  of  these  will  be  restored  from  their  present 
repulsive  condition,  to  one  of  comparative  neatness, 
order  and  beauty,  by  the  stimulus  given  by  the  new 
system. 

It  has  given  gratuitous  sepulture  to  many  of  the 
brave  soldiers  who  lost  their  lives  in  the  late  rebel¬ 
lion,  and  to  many  indigent  persons  who  had  neither 
money  nor  friend  to  defray  this  last  debt  of  nature 
for  them. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  retrospect  suggests  many 


44 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


sad  and  mournful  reflections.  Of  the  original  list  of 
corporators,  twenty -six,  nearly  two -thirds  of  the 
whole,  are  already  numbered  with  the  dead.  Of  these 
twenty-five  sleep  in  the  Cemetery  they  had  prepared 
for  themselves,  and  one,  J udge  R.  C.  Grier,  is  buried 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 

Of  the  first  board  of  managers,  including  the 
treasurer,  four  are  also  dead :  Richard  Biddle,  Chas. 
Avery,  Thomas  Bakewell  and  Nathaniel  Holmes. 
Their  survivors  are  Wilson  McCandless,  Thomas  M. 
Howe,  John  H.  Shoenberger  and  J.  R.  Speer. 

John  Chislett,  Sr.,  the  first  superintendent  and 
engineer  of  the  company,  died  about  four  years 
since,  and  with  his  aged  wife  is  interred  in  the 
grounds  his  refined  taste  and  skill  had  done  so  much 
to  beautify  and  adorn.  Inheriting  the  tastes  and 
acquirements  of  his  father,  and  having  been  for  many 
years  the  practical  eugineer  of  the  company,  John 
Chislett,  Jr.,  fills  the  same  position,  with  equal 
ability  and  acceptance. 

The  number  of  lot-holders  at  this  time  is  about 
three  thousand  five  hundred,  and  the  whole  number 
of  interments,  including  removals  from  other  grave¬ 
yards,  over  seventeen  thousand.  It  includes  the 
names  of  many  noted  and  useful  men  from  the 
business  and  industrial  walks  of  life,  who  will  long 
be  remembered  and  honored  in  this  community. 

Westminster  Abbey  and  Pere-la-Chaise  are  re- 


Historical  Account. 


45 


nowned  for  the  great  number  of  titled  and  royal 
personages  buried  within  their  walls,  many  of  them 
men  whose  fame  as  statesmen,  heroes  and  philoso¬ 
phers  has  pervaded  the  world.  Of  the  whole  number 
interred  in  the  former  we  are  not  informed.  It  is 
said  the  number  in  Pere-la-Chaise,  which  is  only 
equal  in  extent  to  one-half  the  area  of  Allegheny 
Cemetery,  is  but  little  short  of  that  of  the  whole  liv¬ 
ing  population  of  the  city  of  Paris. 

Though  neither  titled  nor  royal,  many  good,  great 
and  worthy  men  have  taken  up  their  last  abode,  after 
'the  toils  and  cares  of  life  were  ended,  in  this  “infant 
metropolis’’  of  the  dead,  who  will  long  be  revered 
by  their  descendants.  Our  limits  will  not  admit  the 
list  of  their  names,  but  amongst  them  will  be  found 
the  record  of  many  of  the  pioneer  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  attracted  from  different  countries  at  an  early 
period  of  her  history ;  men  of  bold  thoughts  and 
enterprise,  whose  prophetic  conceptions  of  the  local 
advantages  of  the  place  gave  origin  to  many  of  the 
most  important  manufacturing,  railroad  and  other 
enterprises,  which  now  constitute  the  basis  of  her 
solid  wealth  and  property. 

To  the  long  list,  the  pulpit,  the  bar  and  the  medical 
profession  have  each  contributed  a  large  share. 

Never  can  these  grounds  cease  to  be  interesting  to 
visitors  as  they  pass  round  their  walks  and  avenues 
and  note  the  names  of  Francis  Herron,  John  Black, 


46 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


Robert  Dunlap,  Robert  Bruce,  Allan  D.  Campbell, 
Elisha  P.  Swift,  and  other  faithful  and  worthy 
divines,  who  by  earnest  argument  and  persuasive 
eloquence, 

“  Tried  every  art,  reproved  each  dull  delay, 

Allured  to  brighter  worlds,  and  led  the  way.” 

From  the  bar  will  be  seen  the  names  of  James 
Ross,  William  Wilkins,  Richard  Biddle,  Orlando 
Metcalf,  Walter  Forward,  Charles  Shaler,  Cornelius 
Darragh,  Wm.  M.  Shinn,  William  B.  McClure, 
Thomas  Williams,  and  many  others  widely  known  as 
distinguished  lawyers  and  statesmen  both  in  the  courts 
and  councils  of  the  state  and  nation. 

Of  the  medical  profession  the  number  is  large 
of  useful  and  eminent  physicians,  who  no  longer 
answer  to  the  calls  of  anxious  patients,  having 
yielded  themselves  to  the  same  fate  which  it  had 
been  their  life  -  long  effort  to  avert  from  others. 
Though  they  have  ceased  from  their  labors,  their 
works  of  kindness  and  mercy  follow  them,  and  they 
will  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  those 
to  whom  they  have  ministered.  In  this  catalogue 
are  the  names  of  James  Agnew,  Shepley  R.  Holmes, 
John  S.  Irwin,  William  F.  Irwin,  Joseph  Gazzam, 
William  Addison,  Andrew  N.  McDowell,  Robert 
Simpson,  Henry  D.  Sellers,  E.  G.  Edrington, 
Jeremiah  Brooks,  Thomas  F.  Dale,  and  Dr.  Day, 
U.  S.  A. 


Historical  Account. 


47 


And  there  is  still  another  class  whose  graves  and 
monuments  will  he  visited  and  wept  over  by  bereaved 
and  loving  friends  while  memory  lasts.  Their  re¬ 
mains  sleep  in  the  Cemetery,  but  their  names  are 
inscribed  on  the  roll  of  their  country’s  honor.  They 
are  the  soldiers  and  patriots  who  sprang  to  arms 
when  the  life  and  integrity  of  the  nation  was  en¬ 
dangered  by  the  late  rebellion,  and  laid  down  their 
lives  in  its  defence. 

Gen.  Alexander  Hays,  Gen.  C.  F.  Jackson,  Col. 
James  H.  Childs,  Col.  Oliver  H.  Bippey,  Col.  Samuel 
W.  Black,  Maj.  Albert  M.  Harper,  Maj.  William  S. 
Kirkwood,  with  nearly  twelve  hundred  of  their  brave 
companions  bivouacked  over  these  grounds,  belong 
to  this  noble  band. 

Fifteen  others  brought  from  the  battle-fields  of 
Mexico,  lie  by  their  side. 

From  the  editorial  corps,  which,  in  every  com¬ 
munity,  exercises  so  large  an  influence  in  forming 
and  guiding  public  opinion,  in  all  the  departments 
of  literature,  morals,  politics  and  religion,  will  be 
found  the  names  of  John  M.  Snowden,  Neville  B. 
Craig,  Robert  M.  Biddle,  Henry  C.  Marthens,  J. 
Herron  Foster,  Hiram  Kaine  and  James  W.  Biddle. 
Many  of  these  men  have  left  behind  them  an  envi¬ 
able  reputation  for  talent  and  ability  as  writers  and 
editors. 

To  not  a  few  who  will  visit  these  grounds,  the 


48 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


name  alone  on  a  monument  or  tomb-stone  will  re¬ 
call  the  history  of  a  whole  past  life ;  to  some  the 
memory  of 

“  Joys  departed  never  to  return,” 

to  some  of  griefs  and  sorrows  unutterable,  except  in 
the  silent  language  of  tears,  while  in  the  minds  of 
others  it  will  revive  the  recollection  of  undying 
parental  love  and  affection,  and  call  up  afresh  the 
lessons  of  piety  and  virtue  instilled  into  their  youth¬ 
ful  minds,  which  have  formed  and  developed  what¬ 
ever  there  is  noble  and  good  in  their  own  characters. 

Indeed,  there  are  but  few  family  circles  in  the 
large  population  of  the  two  adjoining  cities  of  Pitts¬ 
burgh  and  Allegheny,  whose  hearts  and  sympathies 
are  not  drawn  with  deep  and  sorrowful  interest  to 
this  sacred  spot,  by  the  fond  memories  of  some  one 
or  more  loved  ones,  who  have  been  removed  from 
their  midst  by  the  hand  of  death,  and  who  now  sleep 
beneath  its  quiet  and  peaceful  shades. 


GENL.  HAYS. 


Q 


Act  of  Incorporation. 


49 


AN  ACT 

TO 

Incorporate  the  Allegheny  Cemetery, 

OK 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby 
enacted  by  authority  of  the  same ,  That  Thomas  Bake- 
well,  Dr.  James  R.  Speer,  William  Robinson,  Jr., 
John  Freeman,  E.  W.  Stephens,  Thomas  M.  Howe, 
J.  Chislett,  T.  J.  Bigham,  W.  J.  Totten,  Dr.  H.  D. 
Sellers,  F.  Lorenz,  Charles  Avery,  George  Hogg, 
John  H.  Shoenberger,  H.  Childs,  J.  Painter,  John 
Bissell,  H.  Sterling,  Rev.  A.  M.  Bryan,  W.  Lippin- 
cott,  Dr.  William  Kerr,  E.  D.  Gazzam,  R.  S.  Cassat, 
W.  Eichbaum,  F.  G.  Bailey,  H.  Denny,  R.  C.  Grier, 
G.  W.  Jackson,  Josiah  King,  Charles  Brewer,  Wil¬ 
son  McCandless,  J.  S.  Craft,  Geo.  Ogden,  N.  Holmes, 
P.  McCormick,  J.  Laughlin,  R.  Biddle,  J.  D.  McCord, 
R.  Beer  and  Thos.  Irwin,  be  and  they  and  their  suc¬ 
cessors  are  hereby  created  a  body  politic  in  law,  under 
the  name  and  title  of  the  Allegheny  Cemetery,  and 
by  that  name  shall  have  perpetual  succession,  and  be 
able  and  capable  in  law  to  have  and  use  a  common 


50 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


seal,  to  sue  and  be  sued,  implead  and  be  impleaded  in 
all  courts  of  law  and  equity,  and  to  do  all  such  other 
things  as  are  incident  to  a  corporation. 

Section  2.  That  the  said  corporation  shall,  at 
least  once  in  every  year  hereafter,  fill,  by  election 
by  ballot,  all  vacancies  which  may  occur  among 
them,  and  may  at  the  same  time  or  other  times,  in¬ 
crease  and  add  to  their  number  from  those  who  may 
be  lot-holders  in  the  Cemetery,  so  that  the  said 
company  shall  never  be  reduced  to  less  than  ten, 
nor  exceed  forty  members ;  and  they  shall  have  full 
power  to  ordain,  establish  and  put  in  execution  all 
such  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations,  not  contrary  to 
the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  or 
of  this  State,  which  may  be  necessary  for  the  proper 
government  of  this  corporation,  its  officers  and 
affairs,  and,  until  the  election  of  managers,  shall 
exercise  all  the  powers  thereof. 

Section  3.  That  the  said  corporators  shall,  at 
least  once  in  every  year,  elect  from  their  number 
seven  managers,  one  of  whom  shall  be  designated 
as  president,  and  a  secretary  and  treasurer,  who 
shall  make  a  report  of  their  proceedings  and  a 
statement  of  the  finances,  at  the  annual  meetings  of 
the  corporators,  and  as  much  oftener  as  may  be  re¬ 
quired  by  a  majority  of  them  the  said  corporators. 

Section  4.  That  the  said  corporators  or  mana¬ 
gers  shall  have  power  to  contract  for  and  purchase 


Act  of  Incorporation. 


51 


from  the  owner  or  owners  thereof,  a  tract  of  land  in 
Allegheny  county,  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  one 
hundred  acres,  and  the  same  to  lay  out  and  ornament? 
and  to  divide  and  arrange  it  into  suitable  plots  and 
burial  lots,  remove  and  alter  old,  and  erect  new  build¬ 
ings,  and  to  do  all  other  things  proper  and  necessary 
to  be  done  to  adapt  the  said  ground  for  the  purposes 
of  a  Cemetery,  and  to  sell  and  dispose  of  said  plots 
and  burial  lots  in  fee  simple,  or  otherwise,  for  the 
purpose  of  sepulture,  to  individuals,  societies,  or  con¬ 
gregations,  without  distinction  or  regard  to  sect,  under 
such  conditions,  rules  and  regulations  as  the  said 
corporators  or  managers  may  establish  for  the  gov¬ 
ernment  of  lot-holders,  visitors  to  the  Cemetery,  and 
burial  of  the  dead :  Provided,  that  the  lots  granted 
by  the  said  association  for  burial  lots  shall  not  be 
used  for  any  other  purpose ;  and  they  shall  be  free 
from  seizure,  levy  or  sale,  under  or  by  virtue  of  any 
execution  against  any  grantee  or  grantees  of  said  as¬ 
sociation  for  such  purpose. 

Section  5.  That  the  said  corporators,  or  the 
said  managers  after  their  election,  shall  have  the 
power  to  appoint  all  other  officers,  agents  and  work¬ 
men  which  may  be  needful,  and  fix  their  compensa¬ 
tion  or  wages,  and  the  same  discharge  at  pleasure ; 
to  take  from  the  treasurer  security  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  his  trust,  and  to  discharge  him  from 
his  office  upon  occasion  therefor ;  and  that  the  said 


52 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


managers  shall  keep  fair  minutes  of  all  their  acts 
and  doings. 

Section  6.  That  the  said  company  shall  he  capa¬ 
ble  of  holding  so  much  personal  property  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  purposes  of  this  incorporation ;  and 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  managers,  out  of  the  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  sale  of  burial  lots,  to  create  a  fund  to  be 
invested  in  ground  rents  or  mortgages,  the  income 
whereof  shall  be  of  adequate  amount,  and  applied  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  improvement  and  perpetual 
maintenance  of  the  Cemetery  in  proper  order  and 
security ;  and  at  least  ten  per  cent,  of  the  purchase 
money  of  all  burial  lots  shall  be  set  aside  for  said 
improvements,  and  the  creation  of  said  perpetual 
fund ;  and  any  failure  in  the  duties  aforesaid  shall 
subject  said  managers  or  corporators  to  the  control  of 
the  competent  judicial  authority  for  correction. 

Section  7.  That  no  street,  lane  or  road  shall 
ever  be  laid  out  through  the  lands  so  occupied  as  a 
Cemetery,  except  under  the  authority  of  the  corpo¬ 
ration  ;  and  that  the  same  shall  be  exempt  from 
taxation. 

JAS.  EOSS  SNOWDEN, 
Speaker  of  the  Home  of  Representatives. 
WM.  BIGLEE, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  the  24th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1844. 

DAVID  E.  POETEE. 


Acts  of  Assembly. 


ACTS  SUPPLEMENTAL 
To  an  Act  Incorporating  the  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


AN  ACT 

RELATIVE  TO  ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  authority  of  the  same ,  That  the  managers  of 
the  Allegheny  Cemetery,  in  Allegeny  county,  shall 
have  full  power  and  authority  to  contract  for,  buy 
and  acquire  title,  in  fee  simple  or  otherwise,  for  a 
lot  or  lots  of  ground,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  a  receiving  vault  for 
the  dead  of  all  denominations ;  and  also  connected 
therewith,  a  building  for  funeral  services,  if,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  managers  of  the  said  corporation, 
the  same  shall  be  proper  and  necessary. 

Section  2.  That  the  said  managers  shall  also 
have  power  and  authority  to  contract  for,  buy  and 
acquire  title,  in  fee  simple  or  otherwise,  for  an  addi¬ 
tional  number  of  acres  of  ground,  contiguous  to  the 
ground  at  present  enclosed  by  the  Cemetery,  not 
exceeding  one  hundred  acres,  subject  to  the  restric- 


54 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


tions  and  immunities  in  the  charter  of  the  said  cor¬ 
poration  :  Provided ,  that  the  same  shall  he  used  only 
for  the  burial  of  the  dead,  without  distinction  of 
creed  or  sect,  and  the  ornamenting  and  preservation 
of  the  grounds. 

WM.  F.  PACKEE, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

GEOEGE  DAESIE, 
Speaker  of  the  Senate . 

Approved  the  7th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1849. 

WM.  F.  JOHNSTON. 


AN  ACT 

TO  PROTECT  BURIAL  GROUNDS. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  the  authority  of  the  same ,  That  if  any  person 
shall  open  any  tomb  or  grave  in  any  cemetery,  grave¬ 
yard,  or  any  grounds  set  apart  for  burial  purposes, 
either  private  or  public,  held  by  individuals  for  their 
own  use,  or  in  trust  for  others,  or  for  any  church  "or 
institution,  whether  incorporated  or  not,  without  the 
consent  of  the  owners  or  trustees  of  such  grounds, and 
clandestinely  or  unlawfully  remove,  or  attempt  to 
remove,  any  human  body,  or  part  thereof,  therefrom, 
such  person,  upon  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  sen- 


Acts  of  Assembly. 


55 


tenced  to  undergo  an  imprisonment  in  the  county 
jail  or  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  not  less  than  one 
year,  nor  more  than  three  years,  and  pay  a  fine  of 
not  less  than  one  hundred  dollars,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  couft  of  the  proper  county ;  and  any  person 
who  shall  wilfuly  destroy,  mutilate,  deface,  injure 
or  remove  any  tomb,  monument,  grave-stone,  or 
other  structure  placed  in  any  grounds  aforesaid,  or 
any  fence,  or  railing,  or  other  work  for  the  protection 
or  ornament  of  said  grounds,  or  of  any  tomb,  monu¬ 
ment,  grave-stone  or  other  structure  placed  therein, 
as  aforesaid,  or  shall  wilfully  destroy,  cut,  break  or 
remove  any  tree,  shrub  or  plant  within  the  limits  of 
such  grounds,  or  hunt  any  game  within  said  limits, 
’  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  shall, 
upon  conviction  thereof,  before  any  justice  of  the 
peace,  be  punished  by  a  fine,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
justice,  of  not  less  than  five,  nor  more  than  fifty  dol¬ 
lars  ;  Provided ,  that  the  provisions  of  this  Act  shall 
not  go  into  effect  until  after  the  first  day  of  October 
next. 

HENEY  E.  STEONG, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
W.  M.  HIESTEE, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  the  7th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1855. 

JAMES  POLLOCK. 


56 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


AN  ACT 

TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  MANAGERS  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY 
CEMETERY  TO  SELL  CERTAIN  REAL  ESTATE. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  authority  of  the  same ,  That  the  managers  of 
the  Allegheny  Cemetery,  in  the  county  of  Alle¬ 
gheny,  be  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  sell 
and  dispose,  either  at  public  or  private  sale,  so 
much  of  the  ground  purchased  by  them  for  burial 
purposes  as  has  been  severed  and  detached  from  the 
general  enclosure  of  said  Cemetery,  by  reason  of  the 
recent  opening  of  the  public  road  from  the  Pitts¬ 
burgh  and  Greensburg  turnpike  road  to  the  Sharps- 
burg  ferry,  on  the  Allegheny  river,  and  lying  east 
of  the  said  public  road,  and  to  convey  to  the  vendee 
thereof  such  title  as  may  be  vested  in  the  said  com¬ 
pany  ;  any  thing  in  any  Act  of  Assembly  heretofore 
passed,  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

E.  L.  WEIGHT, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
WM.  PIATT, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  the  11th  day  of  April,  A.  I).  1856. 

JAMES  POLLOCK. 


Acts  of  Assembly. 


57 


AN  ACT 

TO  AUTHORIZE  THE  CITIZENS  RESIDING-  WITHIN  THE 
LIMITS  OF  THE  ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY  TO  VOTE 
IN  THE  BOROUGH  OF  LAWRENCEVILLE. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  the  authority  of  the  same ,  That  the  citizens 
residing  within  the  limits  of  the  “  Allegheny  Ceme¬ 
tery/’  in  the  county  of  Allegheny,  qualified  and 
having  a  right  to  vote  at  the  general  elections  of  this 
Commonwealth,  shall  vote  at  the  general  and  county 
elections,  at  the  usual  place  of  holding  such  elections, 
in  the  borough  of  Lawrenceville,  in  said  county,  and 
at  no  other  place,  hereby  declaring  it  not  to  be  the 
object  of  this  law,  otherwise  than  above  provided,  to 
change  the  limits  of  any  township,  or  local  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  above  mentioned  citizens. 

J.  LAWRENCE  GETZ, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
DAVID  TAGGART, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  the  18th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1857. 

JAMES  POLLOCK. 


5 


58 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


AN  ACT 

RELATIVE  TO  ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania ,  in  General  Assembly  met ,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  the  managers 
of  the  Allegheny  Cemetery,  in  the  county  of  Alle¬ 
gheny,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  sell  and 
dispose  of,  either  at  public  or  at  private  sale,  a  cer¬ 
tain  tract  or  parcel  of  land,  adjoining  the  lands  of 
John  H.  Shoenberger,  and  known  as  the  Ewalt  pur¬ 
chase,  containing  eight  acres  and  thirteen  perches, 
more  or  less,  and  to  re-invest  the  proceeds  thereof  in 
the  purchase  of  other  lands  adjoining  said  Cemetery, 
and  also  to  sell,  exchange  or  acquire  such  further 
tracts  or  parcels  of  land  as  may,  by  the  said  board  of 
managers,  be  deemed  expedient  or  advisable,  with  the 
view  of  bringing  the  grounds  of  the  said  Cemetery 
into  a  more  convenient  shape :  Provided,  that  the 
additional  ground  so  acquired  shall  not  exceed  one 
hundred  acres,  and  shall  be  subject  to  the  restrictions 
and  immunities  in  the  charter  of  said  corporation, 
and  be  used  only  for  the  burial  of  the  dead,  with¬ 
out  distinction  of  creed  or  sect,  and  the  ornamenting 
and  improving  of  the  same. 

Section  2.  That  the  said  corporation  may  take 


Acts  of  Assembly. 


59 


and  hold  any  grant,  donation  or  bequest  of  property 
upon  trust,  to  apply  the  same,  or  the  income  thereof, 
under  the  direction  of  the  hoard  of  managers,  for  the 
improvement  or  embellishment  of  the  said  Cemetery, 
or  for  the  erection,  repair,  preservation  or  renewal  of 
any  tomb,  monument  or  grave-stone,  fence,  railing 
or  other  erection,  or  for  the  planting  and  cultivation 
of  trees,  shrubs,  flowers  or  plants,  in  or  around  any 
Cemetery  lot,  or  for  improving  the  said  premises  in 
any  other  manner  or  form  consistent  with  the  design 
and  purpose  of  the  Act  of  incorporation,  according  to 
the  terms  of  such  grant,  donation  or  bequest. 

Section  3.  That  all  grants,  donations  or  bequests 
of  money,  which  shall  be  made  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  section,  the  annual 
income  of  which  only  is  directed,  by  the  terms  of 
such  grant,  donation  or  bequest,  to  be  applied  to  any 
of  the  purposes  set  forth  in  said  section,  shall  be  in¬ 
vested  by  said  board  of  managers,  either  in  ground 
rents,  mortgages  upon  otherwise  unincumbered  real 
estate  in  the  county  of  Allegheny,  or  the  stocks  or 
loans  of  the  Commonwealth  ;  and  the  said  managers 
shall  not  be  responsible  for  their  conduct  of  such 
trust,  except  for  good  faith,  and  such  reasonable  dili¬ 
gence  as  may  be  required  of  mere  gratuitous  agents : 
Provided ,  that  the  said  managers  shall  in  no  case  be 
obliged  to  make  any  separate  investment  of  any  sum 
so  given  ;  and  that  the  average  income  derived  from 


60 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


all  funds  of  the  like  nature,  entrusted  to  the  corpora¬ 
tion,  shall  be  divided  and  apportioned  annually  to 
the  credit  of  said  lot  or  parcel  of  lots  entitled  there¬ 
to,  and  the  same  be  expended  in  accordance  with  the 
direction  or  intention  of  the  donor  or  grantor. 

JOHN  H.  TOMPSON, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, pro  tern. 

W.  M.  FRANCIS, 

Speaker  of  the  Senate . 

Approved  the  6th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1860. 

WM.  F.  PACKER. 


The  following  important  Act  was  passed  at  the  last 
session  of  the  Legislature  : 

AN  ACT 

FOR  THE  FURTHER  PROTECTION  OF  CEMETERIES  IN 
THE  STATE  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  in  General  Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby  en¬ 
acted  by  authority  of  the  same,  That  it  shall  be  lawful 
for  the  trustees,  directors  or  other  officers  of  all  organ¬ 
ized  cemeteries  within  this  State,  to  appoint  as  many 
day  and  night  watchmen  of  their  grounds  as  they 
may  deem  expedient ;  and  such  watchmen,  and  also 


Acts  of  Assembly. 


61 


all  of  their  superintendents,  gardeners  and  agents 
stationed  on  said  grounds,  are  hereby  authorized  to 
take  and  subscribe  before  any  mayor  or  justice  of  the 
peace  in  the  township  where  such  cemeteries  may  be 
situated,  an  oath  of  office,  similar  to  the  oath  required 
by  law  of  constables ;  and  upon  the  taking  of  such 
oath,  such  watchmen,  superintendents,  gardeners  and 
agents  shall  have,  exercise  and  possess  all  the  powers 
of  police  officers  within  and  adjacent  to  said  cemetery 
grounds ;  and  they,  and  each  of  them,  shall  have 
power  to  arrest,  on  view,  all  persons  engaged  in  vio¬ 
lating  the  laws  of  this  State  in  reference  to  the  pro¬ 
tection,  care  and  preservation  of  cemeteries,  and  of 
the  trees,  shrubbery,  structures  and  adornments 
therein,  and  to  bring  such  persons  so  offending  before 
a  mayor  or  justice  of  the  peace  within  such  township, 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law. 

Approved  the  9th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1873. 


62 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


REPORT  OF  1848. 


The  grateful  enterprise  of  establishing,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Pittsburgh,  a  rural  repository  for  the 
dead,  had,  at  an  earlier  period,  been  a  favorite  subject 
with  several  of  our  citizens ;  *  but  it  was  not  till  the 
fall  of  1843  that  it  arrested  any  considerable  degree 
of  the  public  attention. 

Similar  undertakings  in  the  older  and  richer  cities 
of  the  East,  had  been  eminently  successful ;  yet  with 
some  it  was  deemed  a  matter  of  doubt,  whether  the 
population  of  Pittsburgh,  proverbial  for  their  habits 
of  industry  and  rigid  economy,  would  feel  prepared 
to  render  the  necessary  aid  to  insure  success. 

The  practice  of  burying  the  dead  in  populous 
cities,  had  been  condemned  by  eminent  medical 
writers,  as  prejudicial  to  the  health,  as  in  too  many 
instances  it  was  repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  the 
living.  Some  of  our  oldest  church-yards  did  not 
afford  room  for  a  single  interment,  without  desecra- 

*As  early  as  1834,  an  attempt  was  made  by  Dr.  James  R.  Speer, 
Stephen  Colwell  and  John  Chislett,  Esqs.,  to  establish  a  Rural  Ceme¬ 
tery  in  this  neighborhood  ;  although  unsuccessful  at  that  time,  two  of 
the  gentlemen  have  participated  largely  in  recent  and  more  successful 
efforts. 


Report  of  1848. 


63 


ting  the  slumbering  ashes  of  some  departed  friend  or 
relative.  The  necessity  for  action  had  therefore  be¬ 
come  urgent,  and  a  public  meeting  of  citizens  was 
convened  at  the  rooms  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  to 
take  the  matter  into  consideration.  All  classes  were 
represented,  without  distinction  of  creed  or  sect, 
animated  by  the  one  purpose  of  buying  a  common 
“  possession  of  a  burying  place.”  The  meeting  was 
unanimous  in  its  opinion,  that  the  establishment  of  a 
Rural  Cemetery  was  both  expedient  and  practicable ; 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  appoint  committees  to  pro¬ 
cure  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  and  select  suitable 
grounds.  The  lamented  Richard  Biddle,  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  efficient  advocates  of  the  measure, 
was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  to  procure 
the  charter ;  and  the  Act  incorporating  the  “  Alle¬ 
gheny  Cemetery,”  as  it  passed  the  Legislature  on  the 
21st  of  April,  1844,  is  believed  to  be  precisely  in  the 
comprehensive  form  in  which  it  emanated  from  his 
pen. 

The  committee  to  select  grounds,  proceeded  to  the 
immediate  discharge  of  its  duty.  Every  tract  of  land 
lying  north  of  the  Monongahela  and  Ohio  rivers, 
and  within  a  range  of  three  miles  of  the  city,  deemed 
at  all  suitable,  was  carefully  explored.  Several  eli¬ 
gible  locations  were  offered  on  reasonable  terms ;  but 
the  one  reported  as  the  choice  of  the  committee,  sup¬ 
posed  to  combine  the  greatest  number  of  advantages, 


64 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


was  a  tract  of  sixty  acres,  being  the  southern  portion 
of  the  Hatfield  property  of  George  A.  Bayard,  Esq., 
and  constituting  a  part  of  the  present  Cemetery 
property. 

The  organization  of  the  company,  aud  the  first 
election  of  officers  and  managers  under  the  charter, 
took  place  early  in  the  summer  of  1844,  the  precise 
date  of  which  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  owing  to 
the  destruction  of  the  records  and  papers  of  the 
corporation  in  the  memorable  fire  of  the  10th  of 
April,  1845 ;  at  that  election  Bichard  Biddle  was 
chosen  President ;  Charles  Avery,  Thomas  Bake- 
well,  John  H.  Shoenberger.  James  B.  Speer,  Wilson 
McCandless  and  Thomas  M.  Howe,  Managers ; 
Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer ;  and  Thomas  J.  Big- 
ham,  Secretary. 

The  board  of  managers  immediately  appointed 
appropriate  committees  to  mature  plans  for  carrying 
out  the  objects  of  the  charter.  Prominent,  and  most 
important  among  these,  was  a  committee  to  devise 
a  plan  for  raising  the  necessary  funds.  Several 
schemes  were  suggested;  one  was  to  form  a  joint 
stock  company,  with  a  capital  divided  into  shares, 
adequate  to  the  purchasing  of  the  grounds  and  put¬ 
ting  them  under  proper  improvement,  and  from  the 
sale  of  lots,  after  reserving  a  sufficient  fund  for  orna¬ 
menting  and  for  repairs,  to  reimburse  the  stockholders 
by  periodical  dividends.  Another  was  to  solicit  sub- 


LDLEY. 


Report  of  1848. 


65 


scriptions  by  way  of  loans  of  money  from  the  citizens, 
to  be  repaid  with  interest  from  the  sales  of  burial  lots, 
allowing  to  the  lenders  the  right  to  apply  the  amount 
so  loaned  in  payment  of  any  burial  lot  which  they 
might  purchase ;  stipulating  that  any  subscriptions 
made  were  to  be  regarded  as  void,  unless  in  the 
judgment  of  the  board  of  managers  a  sufficient 
amount  should  be  subscribed  to  consummate  the  un¬ 
dertaking. 

The  former  of  these  two  plans  was  deemed  to  be 
highly  objectionable,  when  viewed  in  connection 
with  the  sacred  character  of  the  undertaking,  and 
was  promptly  rejected,  and  the  latter  received  the 
unanimous  approval  of  the  board. 

Subscription  papers  were  accordingly  opened,  and 
the  sum  of  $8,975  subscribed  by  thirty-five  indi¬ 
viduals,  whose  names  together  with  the  amount  of 
their  several  subscriptions,  will  be  found  in  the 
latter  part  of  this  pamphlet. 

A  committee  of  the  whole  board  in  the  meantime 
had  reviewed  the  various  localities  examined  by  the 
previous  committee,  and  arrived  at  the  conclusion 
that  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Bayard  were  best  adapted 
to  the  purpose  of  sepulture,  and  found  that  the  sixty 
acres  could  be  purchased  from  that  gentleman  for 
the  sum  of  $15,000,  on  a  credit  so  liberal  as  to 
render  it  reasonably  certain,  that  with  the  subscrip¬ 
tions  of  $8,975  and  the  probable  receipts  from  sales 


66 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


of  lots,  the  board  would  have  no  difficulty  in  meet¬ 
ing  the  payments  and  going  forward  with  the  neces¬ 
sary  improvements. 

It  should  be  mentioned  in  this  connection,  as  an 
act  of  justice  to  Mr.  Bayard,  that  he  generously 
proposed  to  waive  all  lien  upon  the  property  in  the 
shape  of  mortgage,  thereby  enabling  the  managers 
to  execute  deeds  for  burial  lots  in  fee  simple,  without 
incumbrance,  and  trust  to  the  good  faith  of  a  corpo¬ 
ration  shielded  by  the  very  terms  of  its  charter  from 
execution  for  debt. 

An  important  objection  to  this  selection,  was  the 
want  of  access  to  the  ground  by  any  of  the  principal 
thoroughfares  leading  from  the  city — the  nearest 
approach  being  within  about  three  hundred  yards, 
by  the  Pittsburgh  and  Greensburg  turnpike,  at  a 
point  near  the  residence  of  Peter  Kellar,  Esq.  A 
negotiation  was  accordingly  opened  with  the  heirs 
of  Samuel  Ewalt,  the  owners  of  the  intervening  prop¬ 
erty,  for  the  right  of  way  across  their  premises ;  but 
it  was  found  that  in  consequence  of  the  minority  of 
one  of  the  heirs,  it  would  be  necessary  to  invoke  the 
Legislature  for  authority  to  enable  the  guardians  to 
make  the  conveyance,  or  to  clothe  the  courts  with 
additional  power,  to  grant  an  avenue  of  the  desired 
width,  under  the  survey  of  a  jury.  It  became  neces¬ 
sary,  therefore,  to  postpone  all  further  action  until  the 
assembling  of  the  Legislature  the  ensuing  winter. 


Report  of  1848. 


67 


In  the  ensuing  spring  many  of  the  subscribers  to 
the  fund  shared  largely  in  the  losses  occasioned  by 
the  great  fire  of  the  10th  of  April,  and  it  was  deemed 
to  be  due  to  them  that  they  should  again  be  con¬ 
sulted  as  to  their  willingness  to  contribute.  A  com¬ 
mittee  for  this  purpose  was  accordingly  appointed, 
consisting  of  Richard  Biddle,  Wilson  McCandless  and 
T.  J.  Bigham,  Esqs.,  who  reported  at  a  meeting  of 
the  corporators  on  the  6th  of  June,  that  all  the  sub¬ 
scribers  were  willing  to  be  held  responsible. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  6th  of  June,  1845,  the  corpo¬ 
rators,  in  pursuance  of  the  requirements  of  the  charter, 
proceeded  to  a  new  election  of  officers  and  managers. 
Mr.  Biddle  signifying  his  desire,  on  account  of  heavy 
losses  by  the  fire,  involving  the  necessity  of  renewed 
application  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  to  retire 
from  the  board,  the  Hon.  Thomas  Irwin  was  elected 
President;  Chas.  Avery,  Thomas  Bakewell,  John  H. 
Shoenberger,  Wilson  McCandless,  James  R.  Speer 
and  Thomas  M.  Howe,  were  re-elected  Managers ; 
Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer;  and  Jesse  Carothers, 
Secretary. 

On  the  10th  of  June  the  new  board  met.  Mr. 
Bayard  being  present  by  request  of  the  managers, 
proposed  to  sell  his  entire  Hatfield  property,  east  of 
the  Butler  road,  containing  about  one  hundred  acres, 
including  his  mansion  house  and  other  improve¬ 
ments,  for  the  sum  of  $50,000,  and  that  he  would 


68 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


take  the  notes  of  the  corporation  guaranteed  by  re¬ 
sponsible  individuals  for  $25,000,  payable  in  five 
years,  with  interest ;  and  for  the  remaining  $25,000 
would  receive  one-half  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of 
lots,  after  the  expiration  of  five  years,  until  the  same 
was  paid,  with  interest ;  and  would  make  a  deed  free 
from  all  incumbrance  to  the  corporation.  This  pro¬ 
position  met  with  the  unanimous  approbation  of  the 
board  of  managers,  and  was  accepted. 

A  sufficient  number  of  the  corporators  came  for¬ 
ward  with  commendable  liberality,  and  each  became 
responsible  for  the  sum  of  $1,000,  and  the  purchase 
was  fully  consummated,  and  on  the  10th  of  June, 
Mr.  J ohn  Chislett,  the  intelligent  architect  and 
superintendent  of  the  company,  was  authorized  to 
proceed  forthwith  to  survey  and  lay  out  the  grounds 
preparatory  to  a  public  sale  of  lots.  The  plan  was 
completed  by  the  27th  of  August,  and  the  President 
authorized  to  advertise  a  public  sale  of  lots,  to  take 
place  on  the  26th  of  September. 

The  grounds  were  dedicated  by  appropriate  relig¬ 
ious  ceremonies  on  the  20th  of  September,  on  which 
occasion  an  original  ode  was  sung,  composed  by  our 
talented  young  townsman,  Robert  P.  Nevin,  Esq. 
The  Throne  of  Grace  was  addressed  in  an  eloquent 
prayer  by  the  Rev.  George  S.  Holmes,  of  the  Meth¬ 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  followed  by  a 
chaste  and  appropriate  address  from  Professor  Green, 


Beport  of  1848. 


69 


of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  the  service 
concluded  by  a  benediction  from  that  venerable  pa¬ 
triarch  of  the  church,  the  Bev.  Francis  Herron,  D.  D. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  hoard  of  managers  on  the  20th 
of  September,  the  following  resolution  was  offered  by 
Mr.  Howe,  and  unanimously  adopted : 

“  Resolved ,  That  the  hoard  of  managers,  for  them¬ 
selves  and  the  corporators  whom  they  represent, 
disclaim  all  intention  or  design  of  deriving  any  pri¬ 
vate  or  pecuniary  advantage  from  the  sale  of  burial 
lots ;  that  it  is  the  intention  of  the  board  of  managers 
to  appropriate  the  entire  proceeds  of  such  sales,  first 
to  the  extinguishment  of  the  debt  assumed  by  the 
corporators  in  the  purchase  of  the  property,  and  in 
ornamenting  the  grounds,  and  after  these  objects  are 
accomplished,  then  to  create  such  a  permanent  fund 
as  shall  be  thought  adequate  to  keep  the  grounds  in 
good  condition  through  all  time  to  come,  and  the 
remainder  to  devote  to  philanthropic  and  charitable 
uses.” 

The  first  public  sale  of  lots  was  made  on  the  26th 
of  September,  at  which  time  ninety-six  lots  were 
sold,  producing  the  sum  of  $9,835. 

A  Public  Vault  for  the  temporary  reception  of  the 
dead,  to  be  located  in  some  eligible  position  in  the 
city,  formed  a  part  of  the  original  plan  of  the  board 


70 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


of  managers,  and  has  always  been  considered  by  them 
of  primary  importance.  As  early,  therefore,  as  Oc¬ 
tober,  1845,  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  were  applied  to  for  permission  to  erect,  in 
their  yard,  a  receiving  tomb ;  the  application  was 
favorably  received  by  the  trustees  of  the  church,  and 
permission  granted,  under  suitable  restrictions.  The 
matter,  however,  met  the  decided  disapprobation  of  a 
majority  of  the  congregation,  and  the  trustees  were 
induced  to  revoke  the  grant.  Informal  application 
was  then  made  to  Trinity  Church,  with  like  results, 
when  the  managers  of  the  Cemetery  for  the  time  were 
induced  to  forego  further  attempts.  They  do  not 
despair,  however,  of  being  able  to  accomplish  the 
object  at  no  remote  period,  believing  that  the  objec¬ 
tions  with  which  they  have  heretofore  been  met,  will 
be  found  altogether  groundless,  when  the  character 
of  similar  vaults  in  the  eastern  cities  become  more 
generally  known. 

The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  corporators  was 
held  on  the  6th  of  June,  1846.  Thomas  Irwin  was 
re-elected  President ;  Chas.  Avery,  John  H.  Shoen- 
berger,  John  Bissell,  Wilson  McCandless,  James 
It.  Speer  and  Thomas  M.  Howe,  were  elected  Mana- 
agers ;  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer ;  and  Jesse 
Carothers,  Secretary. 

A  statement  of  the  financial  affairs  was  presented 
to  the  meeting,  showing  the  amount  of  sales,  from 


Report  of  1848. 


71 


the  26th  Sept,  to  the  5th  of  June,  to  he  $20,489  72 
Of  which  amount  there  had  been  ap¬ 
propriated  as  follows : 

To  pay  George  A.  Bayard,  $11,961  62 
Improvements  and  expenses,  2,372  68 — 14,333  30 

Leaving  on  hand  a  balance  in  favor  of - 

the  corporation  of  $6,156  42 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  exhibit,  that 
the  managers  had  been  nobly  sustained  by  the  pub¬ 
lic  ;  that  the  sales  during  the  first  eight  months  had 
amounted  to  four-fifths  of  the  sum  for  which  the 
corporators  had  issued  their  personal  guaranty  in  the 
purchase  of  the  property,  and  gave  the  most  cheer¬ 
ing  promise  that  the  success  of  the  enterprise  would 
exceed  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  its  most  ardent 
friends. 

Encouraged  by  results  so  flattering,  the  managers 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  construction  of  improvements 
of  a  substantial  character.  The  line  of  the  property 
fronting  on  the  road  was  enclosed  by  a  stone  wall 
eight  feet  in  height,  with  a  private  Gothic  gateway ; 
and  a  secure  board  fence  of  the  same  height  extend¬ 
ing  around  the  entire  property,  designed  to  be  re¬ 
placed  at  as  early  a  period  as  the  funds  will  permit, 
by  an  extension  of  the  stone  wall. 

The  improvement  of  the  grounds  was  assiduously 
prosecuted  during  the  year,  according  to  the  original 
plan,  by  extending  and  gravelling  the  avenues,  plant- 


72 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


ing  shrubbery,  ornamental  flowers,  &c.,  the  sale  of 
lots  keeping  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  improve¬ 
ments. 

The  third  annual  meeting  was  held  on  the  6th  of 
June,  1847,  at  which  time  Messrs.  Irwin  and  Avery 
signified  their  wish  to  retire  from  the  board.  Thomas 
M.  Howe  was  elected  President ;  John  H.  Shoenber- 
ger,  John  Bissell,  Wilson  McCandless,  James  R. 
Speer,  Jesse  Carothers  and  Nathaniel  Holmes,  were 
elected  Managers;  and  John  Finney,  Jr.,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer.  During  this  year  the  improvements 
of  the  ground  were  greatly  advanced  by  extending 
the  old,  and  adding  new  avenues,  and  putting  in 
proper  condition,  for  sale,  several  new  sections.  A 
contract  was  also  made  with  William  W.  Wallace  for 
constructing  the  principal  gateway,  which  is  to  be  of 
the  castellated  Gothic  style  of  architecture. 

Arrangements  were  made,  on  the  17th  of  March, 
for  paying  a  merited  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory 
of  two  gallant  officers  of  the  United  States  Navy- 
Corn.  Joshua  Barney  and  Lieut.  James  L.  Parke  ; 
the  former  of  whom  died  while  on  a  casual  visit  to 
this  city,  in  the  year  1818,  and  whose  remains  had 
been  interred  in  the  church-yard  of  the  First  Presby¬ 
terian  Church.  The  latter  died  with  his  armor  on, 
and  at  his  post  of  duty,  off  the  coast  of  Mexico,  during 
the  recent  war  with  that  country.  The  managers  of 
the  Cemetery  had  appropriated  a  beautiful  spot  in 


k' 


S.  V.  ALBEE.  Ph. 


REV.  CHARLES  AVERY. 


Report  of  1848. 


73 


the  most  commanding  position  in  the  grounds,  and 
dedicated  it  as  a  burial  place  for  naval  heroes,  under 
the  name  of  Mount  Barney.  To  this  spot  the  remains 
of  the  two  gallant  officers  were  removed  on  the  12th 
day  of  May,  1848,  accompanied  by  such  appropriate 
manifestations  of  respect  as  were  due  to  their  illus¬ 
trious  deeds,  and  which  have  been  faithfully  chron¬ 
icled  in  an  eloquent  address  delivered  upon  that 
occasion  by  our  fellow-citizen,  Wilson  McCand- 
less,  Esq. 

The  religious  services  were  conducted  by  Prof. 
Alexander  T.  McGill,  D.  D.,  whose  truly  eloquent 
prayer  it  had  been  the  wish  of  the  board  of  managers 
to  perpetuate  in  the  same  record  with  the  address. 
The  effort,  however,  having  been  entirely  impromptu, 
the  Doctor’s  Christian  candor  induced  him  to  decline 
an  attempt  to  copy  it  from  memory. 

At  the  fourth  annual  meeting,  on  the  5th  of  June, 
1848,  the  officers  and  managers  of  the  preceding  year 
were  unanimously  re-elected.  The  treasurer’s  state¬ 
ment  of  ' the  financial  affairs  of  the  corporation  exhib¬ 
ited  its  resources  as  adequate  to  the  payment  in  full, 
both  principal  and  interest,  of  the  remaining  balance 
due  Mr.  Bayard  on  the  first  installment  of  $25,000, 
and  leave  a  sufficient  sum  on  hand  to  prosecute  the 
improvements. 

The  managers  had  expected  that  the  principal 
Gateway,  together  with  the  Porter’s  Lodge  connected 

6 


74 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


therewith,  would  have  been  finished  during  the 
present  season,  hut  disappointments  in  the  receipt  of 
stone,  which  are  transported  from  the  vicinity  of 
Freeport,  in  Armstrong  county,  will  necessarily  pro- 
tract  the  period  of  its  completion  till  the  middle  of 
next  year.  The  work,  so  far  as  it  has  progressed, 
has  been  executed  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner, 
creditable  alike  to  the  skill  of  the  mechanic  by  whose 
chisel  the  rough  stone  has  been  moulded  into  shape, 
and  to  the  intelligent  architect  whose  pencil  first 
traced  the  design. 

It  is  now  a  little  more  than  three  years  since  the 
improvements  of  the.  Allegheny  Cemetery  were  first 
commenced.  Within  this  period  about  eighteen 
acres  have  been  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  sections 
and  lots,,  of  which  about  twelve  acres  have  been  sold. 
Three  miles  of  avenues  have  been  opened,  nearly  all  of 
which  have  been  gravelled ;  six  hundred  and  thirty 
lots  have  been  sold ;  fifteen  lots  have  been  improved 
by  being  inclosed  within  an  iron  fence ;  sixteen  have 
been  inclosed  with  marble  posts  and  chains!  There 
have  been  erected  forty-three  marble  monuments  and 
three  vaults. 

The  first  interment  was  made  on  the  4th  of  Sep¬ 
tember,  1845,  being  the  daughter  of  George  A.  Bay¬ 
ard,  Esq.,  and  wife  of  James  A.  Briggs,  Esq.,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  whole  number  of  interments 
to  the  present  time,  is  five  hundred  and  five. 


Report  of  1848. 


75 


The  following  statement,  from  the  Treasurer’s 
books,  exhibits  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the  corporation, 
from  the  beginning  of  the  enterprise  to  the  21st  of 
October,  1848. 

RECEIPTS. 

Total  amount  of  sales  to  21st  Oct.,  1848,  $50,896  33 
Received  for  interments,  &c.,  -  -  631  25 

Received  from  Chas.  S.  Bradford,  Esq.,  50  00 

Total  receipts,  -  -  $51,577  58 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Paid  George  A.  Bayard  on  account  of 
purchase,  -  -  $22,503  67 

Paid  for  improvements,  11,324  51 
Paid  expenses,  salaries,  &c.,  3,498  12 

Paid  interest,  -  -  269  36 

Paid  stock  and  tools  on  grounds,  751  21 

Total  disbursements,  -  $38,346  87 

Leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  cor¬ 
poration,  as  follows,  viz. : 

Cash  on  hand,  $  188  29 

Notes  in  hands  of  treasurer,  3,269  89 
Due  for  lots  sold,  -  -  9,772  53 

Available  resources, -  13,230  71 


$51,577  58 


76 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


The  foregoing  summary  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
corporation,  hastily  compiled  under  'the  direction  of 
the  hoard  of  managers,  amidst  the  pressure  of  other 
duties,  is  believed  to  comprise  all  the  operations 
calculated  to  interest  the  lot-holders,  or  the  public 
at  large. 

It  has  been  no  part  of  the  design  of  this  brief 
report  to  enter  into  a  description  of  the  grounds. 
For  readers  at  home  such  a  task  would  be  alto¬ 
gether  a  work  of  supererogation.  In  the  admirable 
adaptation  of  the  soil  to  the  purposes  of  sepulture, 
and  the  picturesque  beauty  of  its  surface,  diversified 
by  hill  and  dale,  and  running  brook,  nature  has  done 
all  that  the  most  fastidious  taste  could  desire.  The 
hand  of  man,  under  the  skillful  supervision  of  the 
accomplished  'architect  of  the  company,  J ohn  Chislett, 
Esq.,  has  already  accomplished  much  in  the  way  of 
ornament.  The  enterprise,  however,  is  yet  in  its 
infancy;  but  a  foundation  has  been  laid,  on  which  a 
liberal  and  generous  public  will  rear  a  mighty  “  city 
of  the  dead/’  to  which,  when  the  cares  and  anxieties 
of  life  shall  have  been  laid  aside  forever,  we,  and  our 
posterity  for  unnumbered  generations  to  come,  will 
be  gathered  in  peaceful  repose,  to  await  the  final  con¬ 
summation  of  all  things. 

'  Submitted  in  behalf  of  the  board  of  managers,  by 

THOMAS  M.  HOWE, 

President. 


Repoet  of  1857. 


77 

REPORT  OE  185  7. 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery  was  incorporated  by  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  on  the  24th  of  April, 
1844,  and  its  beautiful  grounds  dedicated  to  the  pur¬ 
poses  of  sepulture,  by  appropriate  religious  services, 
on  the  20th  of  September,  1845. 

From  that  period  to  the  present  it  has  continued 
to  receive,  as  the  managers  would  fain  believe  it  to 
have  merited,  unmistakable  tokens  of  the  popular 
regard. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  initiation  of  the 
enterprise,  which  have  been  detailed  in  previous 
Reports,  and  the  wholly  unselfish  principles  upon 
which  it  was  based,  have  not  failed,  as  it  was  believed 
they  would  not,  to  challenge  the  sympathies  of  the 
public,  and  enlist  its  generous  and  cordial  co-opera¬ 
tion. 

Unlike  many  kindred  enterprises,  no  purposes  of 
private  speculation,  or  individual  emolument,  have 
been  permitted  to  enter  here.  The  contributions  and 
responsibilities  of  such  of  the  corporators  as  united 
in  the  undertaking,  were  made  and  assumed  with  no 
hope  of  pecuniary  reward ;  the  entire  funds  arising 
from  the  sale  of  burial  lots  having  been  specifically 


78 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


dedicated,  by  one  of  the  earliest  official  acts  of  the 
company,  to  the  purchase  and  improvement  of  the 
grounds,  and  keeping  them  in  perpetual  repair 
through  all  future  time — and  no  part  of  the  same 
can,  under  any  circumstances,  enure  to  the  corpo¬ 
rators. 

It  is  this  feature  of  its  organization,  the  knowledge 
on  the  part  of  each  several  purchaser  of  a  lot,  that 
the  amount  of  money  which  he  contributes  is  to  be 
wholly  expended  in  improving  and  beautifying  the 
grounds,  instead  of  being  diverted,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  to  the  pockets  of  the  corporators,  that  has  se¬ 
cured  so  large  a  measure  of  success,  and  enabled  the 
managers,  with  just  pride,  to  challenge  comparison 
with  any  similar  undertaking  in  any  part  of  the 
country. 

Not  quite  twelve  years  have  yet  elapsed,  but  in 
that  comparatively  brief  period  the  enterprise  has 
been  placed  upon  a  secure  and  substantial  foundation, 
fully  equalling  the  most  confident  predictions  of  its 
most  sanguine  friends.  The  receipts  of  the  company 
in  that  period  have  amounted — 

From  sales  of  lots  and  ground,  to  -  $182,729  73 
From  interments  and  removals,  -  20,976  61 

From  other  sources,  -  560  12 


Making  the  total  receipts, 


$204,266  46 


Report  of  1857. 


79 


Total  receipts,  -  $204,266  46 

Of  which  there  has  been  expended  as 
follows : 

Paid  George  A.  Bayard,  Esq.,  for  pur¬ 
chase  of  property,  -  $50,000  00 
Paid  R.  L.  Ewalt,  for  do.,  9,134  87 
Paid  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Mowry 
and  sons,  on  account  of 
purchase  of  property, — 

$22,595,  less  amount  un¬ 
paid,  $8,595,  -  -  14,000  00 

Paid  Bishop  O’Connor,  for 
right  of  way  between  the 
Cemetery  grounds  and  the 
Pittsburgh  and  Greens- 
burg  turnpike,  -  -  1,715  00 

Paid  William  Young  on 
account  of  purchase  from 
him  not  yet  fully  per- 


fected,  - 

10 

00 

Expended  for  labor  and  im¬ 

provements, 

60,761 

30 

Paid  for  interest,  - 

14,009 

69 

General  expenses, 

27,892 

63 

Stock  and  tools,  - 

1,460 

37 

Total  disbursements,  -  $178,983  86 


Leaving  a  surplus  of 


$  25,282  60 


80 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


consisting  of — 

Cash  in  hands  of  Treasurer  and  Super¬ 


intendent, 

Bills  receivable,  - 
Accounts  receivable, 
Bonds  and  mortgages 


$2,788  50 
6,927  29 
2,514  11 
13,052  70 


$  25,282  60 


By  the  sixth  section  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation, 
it  is  made  the  duty  of  the  managers,  out  of  the 
proceeds  of  sale  of  burial  lots,  to  create  a  fund  to 
be  invested  in  ground  rents  or  mortgages,  the  income 
whereof  shall  he  of  adequate  amount,  and  applied  as 
may  he  necessary,  for  the  improvement  and  perpet¬ 
ual  maintenance  of  the  Cemetery  in  proper  order  and 
security.  The  $13,052.70  of  bonds  and  mortgages, 
comprised  in  the  foregoing  statement,  have  been 
specially  set  aside  towards  the  creation  of  that  fund. 

The  only  remaining  indebtedness  of  the  company 
is  an  unpaid  balance  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Mowry  and  sons, 
on  account  of  the  ground  purchased  from  them,  of 
$8,595.  This  amount  is  not  payable,  by  the  terms 
of  the  contract,  until  October  1st,  1867,  yet  it  is  the 
purpose  of  the  board  of  managers  to  extinguish  it  as 
early  as  a  due  regard  to  the  prosecution  of  the  many 
improvements  will  permit.  Two  or  three  years,  at 
most,  it  is  thought,  will  suffice  to  accomplish  it,  after 
which  the  board  will  be  enabled  to  augment  the  re- 


Report  of  1857. 


81 


served  fund  more  rapidly.  It  ought  to  be  observed  in 
this  connection,  however,  that  a  much  larger  amount 
has  been  appropriated  already  to  the  creation  of  this 
fund  and  the  extension  of  the  improvements,  than  is 
required  by  the  terms  of  the  charter.  It  is  a  primary 
object  in  the  management  of  the  business  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  to  carry  forward  the  permanent  improvement 
of  the  grounds  as  rapidly  as  possible,  there  being  no 
longer  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of  any  one  that  the 
means  from  which  to  accumulate  a  reserved  fund,  fully 
adequate  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  intended, 
will  be  entirely  ample,  after  the  improvement  of  the 
grounds,  according  to  the  present  design,  shall  have 
been  consummated. 

The  grounds  of  the  company  consist 
at  present  of  the  original  Hatfield 
property,  purchased  of  George  A.  Acres.  Roods.  Perche8. 

Bayard,  amounting  to  100  1  08T3^ 

Lands  adjoining  the  above,  pur¬ 
chased  from  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Mowry 
and  sons,  -  56  1  38T%% 

Land  purchased  from  Bishop  O’Con¬ 
nor,  for  an  avenue  100  feet  in 
width  from  the  Cemetery  to  the 
Pittsburgh  and  Greensburg  turn¬ 
pike,  -  -  -  -  -  22  04 

Land  purchased  from  R.  L.  Ewalt,  8  0  13T6^ 


167  1  S4M 


82  The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

making  in  all  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres, 
one  rood  and  thirty-four  perches. 

The  board  have  negotiated  with  William  Young 
for  the  purchase  of  a  small  tract  containing  about 
eight  acres,  adjoining  the  Cemetery  grounds  on  the 
east,  which  was  found  desirable  to  straighten  our 
lines  upon  that  side,  and  at  the  same  time  give  a 
more  perfect  command  of  the  small  stream  of  water 
which  now  runs  partly  upon  the  grounds  of  the 
Cemetery  and  partly  upon  the  tract  named.  When 
this  purchase  is  perfected,  which  now  only  awaits 
the  execution  of  the  necessary  title  papers,  our 
grounds  will  somewhat  exceed  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  acres — being  considerably  the  largest 
single  tract  in  this  country  devoted  to  purposes  of 
sepulture,  that  of  Greenwood,  at  New  York,  alone 
excepted. 

The  ground  was  broken  for  the  first  interment  in 
September,  1845.  From  that  time  to  the  first  of 
June,  1857,  the  number  of  interments  other  than 
removals,  were  3,815 ;  of  removals  principally  from 
the  city  grave-yards,  there  were  in  the  same  time 
1,822,  making  the  whole  number  of  interments  since 
the  first  opening  of  the  grounds,  5,637 — occurring  in 
the  several  years  as  follows : 


Report  of  1857. 


88 


Original  Interments. 

Removals. 

Total. 

In  1845, 

8 

0 

8 

In  1846, 

29 

38 

67 

In  1847, 

111 

80 

191 

In  1848, 

193 

114 

307 

In  1849, 

275 

324 

599 

In  1850, 

319 

141 

460 

In  1851, 

362 

82 

444 

In  1852, 

381 

57 

438 

In  1853, 

383 

135 

518 

In  1854, 

695 

722 

1,417 

In  1855, 

462 

55 

517 

In  1856, 

407 

44 

451 

To  June  1,  1857, 

190 

30 

220 

Total, 

3,815 

1,822 

5,637 

There  have  been  sold  one 
dred  and  thirty-five  lots. 

thousand 

nine  hun- 

One  hundred  and  forty-three  lots  have  been 
enclosed  with  iron  fences ;  eighty-five  with  fences  of 
stone,  some  of  which  are  executed  with  an  elaborate¬ 
ness  and  chasteness  of  design  equalling,  if  not  sur¬ 
passing,  anything  of  the  kind  to  he  found  in  the 
United  States;  forty-five  have  been  enclosed  with 
stone  posts  and  iron  bars  or  chains,  and  thirty-five 
with  hedges. 

There  have  been  erected  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  monuments,  and  five  private  vaults  or  tombs. 


84 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


The  general  improvement  of  the  grounds  has  been 
steadily  prosecuted,  under  the  skillful  supervision  of 
the  superintendent,  John  Chislett,  Esq,,  and  his 
efficient  assistant,  John  Chislett,  Jr.,  until  most  of  the 
main  avenues  and  carriage  ways  are  well  nigh  com¬ 
pleted.  Somewhat  more  than  five  miles  and  a  quarter 
are  entirely  finished  and  gravelled,  together  with  about 
one  mile  and  a  quarter  of  gravelled  walks.  Over 
twenty  thousand  trees  and  shrubs  have  been  set  out 
within  the  enclosure,  independently  of  those  planted 
by  private  lot-holders.  Much  attention  has  also 
been  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  flowers  and  flowering 
shrubs,  which  have  been  so  skilfully  disposed  in  the 
various  parts  of  the  grounds,  as  to  make  the  Alle¬ 
gheny  Cemetery,  in  the  season  of  their  bloom,  wear 
more  the  appearance  of  a  garden  of  flowers  than  that 
of  a  sombre  repository  of  the  ashes  of  the  dead. 

Inquiries  are  not  unfrequently  made  upon  the 
subject  of  a  Receiving  Vault,  to  be  located  in  the 
city.  It  has  been  thought  desirable,  in  many  re¬ 
spects,  that  some  provision  should  be  made  which 
would  abridge  the  cost  of  funerals,  by  providing 
some  temporary  deposit  for  the  dead  within  the  city, 
from  which  a  removal  to  the  Cemetery  could  be  sub¬ 
sequently  made,  at  the  convenience  of  the  immediate 
friends  of  the  deceased. 

The  best  efforts  of  the  managers  to  accomplish 
this  object  have  proved  ineffectual.  Repeated  ap- 


Report  of  1857. 


85 


plications  have  been  made  to  the  proprietors  of  the 
several  city  church-yards  for  permission  to  erect  a 
receiving  tomb  within  their  enclosure,  but  have 
always  been  declined. 

There  has  been  for  several  years  a  growing  anti¬ 
pathy  to  structures  of  this  sort  in  densely  populated 
cities.  They  have  been  for  some  time  entirely  ex¬ 
cluded  from  or  disused  in  the  city  of  London ;  and 
the  same  is  also  true  of  New  York.  Greenwood 
Cemetery,  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York,  had 
four  receiving  tombs  within  the  city ;  but  the  popular 
prejudice  against  them  became  so  strong,  that  their 
use  has  been  for  some  time  abandoned.  In  view  of 
these  results,  therefore,  it  is  probably  as  well  that  our 
efforts  in  this  respect  have  proved  abortive. 

A  Receiving  Vault,  or  Mausoleum,  is,  however, 
a  desirable,  if  not  a  necessary  appurtenant  to  the 
Cemetery,  as  a  temporary  deposit  for  strangers  dying 
in  the  city,  whose  remains  are  intended  for  removal. 
Instances  of  death  sometimes  occur,  too,  under  cir¬ 
cumstances  which  involve  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
friends  whether  it  may  not  be  a  case  of  suspended 
animation  only ;  some  provision  for  cases  of  this  sort 
has,  therefore,  been  thought  desirable.  To  provide 
for  such  exigencies,  the  managers  have  contracted  for 
the  building  of  a  Mausoleum  and  Receiving  Tomb 
upon  the  Cemetery  grounds,  of  which  it  is  enough  to 
say,  that  while  it  will  be  in  every  respect  adapted  to 


86 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


the  purposes  intended,  it  will  he,  at  the  same  time, 
alike  creditable  to  the  corporation  and  the  accom¬ 
plished  superintendent,  to  whose  skill  and  excellent 
taste  we  are  indebted  for  the  design. 

While  the  managers  have  abundant  cause  of  grat- 
ulation  at  the  successful  result  of  their  efforts  to 
render  the  Allegheny  Cemetery  a  monument  of  the 
liberality  and  good  taste  of  the  citizens  of  Pittsburgh 
and  its  vicinity,  their  congratulations  are  mingled 
with  a  feeling  of  sadness,  by  the  reflection  that  nine 
of  their  compeers  in  the  inauguration  of  the  work, 
almost  one-fourth  of  their  number,  have  passed  away 
from  the  busy  scenes  of  life,  and  yielded  their  places 
to  others. 

Richard  Biddle,  Harmar  Denny,  Frederick  Lo¬ 
renz,  H.  D.  Sellers,  George  Hogg,  Nathaniel  Holmes, 
John  Freeman,  William  Lippincott  and  William  J. 
Totten,  are  names  imperishably  associated  with  the 
early  history  of  the  enterprise,  now  registered  with 
the  dead. 

These  grounds,  upon  which  nature  has  been  so 
prodigal  of  her  charms,  under  skilful  culture,  year 
by  year,  have  continued  to  increase  in  beauty. 
Sacred  associations  cluster  here.  These  grassy 
mounds  and  little  tumuli  of  earth  are  consecrated  by 
a  thousand  tender  recollections  connected  with  the 
once-loved  forms  that  sleep  beneath.  And,  day  by 
day,  there  come  up  from  the  dusky  atmosphere  of 


ALBEE.  Photo. 


Report  of  1857. 


87 


yon  smoky  city,  stricken  hearts  to  pay  the  tribute 
of  a  tear  to  the  memory  of  the  “  loved  and  lost,”  and 
to  offer  up  to  the  great  Disposer  of  events  a  fervent 
acknowledgment  for  his  goodness,  in  teaching  them, 
even  by  afljliction,  what  all  else  had  failed  to  teach — 
that  first  great  lesson  of  the  Decalogue — that  God 
requires  the  supreme  affections  of  the  heart. 

THOMAS  M.  HOWE, 

President. 


88 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


.REPORT  OF  SUPERINTENDENT. 

\ 


To  the  Corporators  of  Allegheny  Cemetery : 

Gentlemen — I  have  the  pleasure  to  report 
that  since  the  date  of  my  appointment,  August  7, 

1867,  the  work  of  improving  and  ornamenting  the 
grounds  of  the  Cemetery,  which  had  been  conducted 
for  the  twenty-five  years  previous  to  that  date  by  my 
father  and  predecessor,  has  since  been  progressing 
steadily  and  satisfactorily,  in  accordance  with  the 
designs  and  plans  which  he  initiated. 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  your  proceedings, 
that  at  a  meeting  of  the  corporators  held  June  27, 

1868,  the  erection  of  an  additional  gateway  for 
funerals  was  recommended,  and  the  superintendent 
directed  to  prepare  plans  and  estimates  for  the  same. 

Itis^also  stated,  that  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of 
managers  held  September  26,  1868,  it  was  suggested 
by  the  superintendent  that  a  new  and  more  conve¬ 
nient  building  had  become  necessary  for  the  trans¬ 
action  of  the  increasing  business  of  the  Cemetery, 
the  plan  and  proximate  estimates  for  which  were 
submitted  for  their  consideration.  After  a  full 


Report  of  Superintendent. 


89 


discussion  of  the  subject  at  this  meeting,  the  follow¬ 
ing  resolution  was  adopted  : 

That  the  plans  for  a  new  gateway,  road  and  offices, 
submitted  by  the  architect,  be  adopted,  referring  the 
design  of  the  gateway  to  the  superintendent  and 
improvement  committee  for  such  modification,  if  any, 
as  they  may  deem  expedient. 

Agreeably  to  these  instructions,  the  new  and  ele¬ 
gant  building,  and  the  gateway  adjoining  it  on  Butler 
street,  have  been  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000,  and 
are  now  in  daily  use.  The  location  of  the  offices 
at  the  entrance  of  the  grounds-  on  Butler  street  is 
found  to  be  more  convenient  than  the  former,  both 
for  the  public  and  all  persons  transacting  the  business 
of  the  Cemetery. 

The  building  contains  all  the  rooms  necessary  for 
business  purposes — a  suitable  room  on  the  'second 
floor,  neatly  furnished,  for  meetings  of  the  corpora¬ 
tors  and  managers,  and  a  large  and  beautiful  en¬ 
trance  room  on  the  first  floor,  furnished  with  sofas 
and  chairs  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors,  more 
especially  of  ladies,  who  often  require  rest  after  the 
fatigue  of  rambling  over  the  grounds. 

It  is  in  contemplation  shortly  to  erect  a  large  and 
handsome  fountain  near  the  eastern  end  of  the  office 
buildings,  which  will  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  and 
attractiveness  of  the  section  near  the  entrance. 

In  regard  to  the  cost  of  making  roads  and  avenues 


7 


90  The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 

through  the  Cemetery,  it  is  evident  that  the  elevated 
and  uneven  character  of  a  large  portion  of  it  must 
make  the  labor  and  cost  of  grading,  preparing  the 
road-bed  and  stoning,  much  greater  than  if  the  sur¬ 
face  were  more  level.  On  this  account  frequent 
repairs  are  necessary,  especially  after  heavy  rains, 
from  the  constant  wear  of  the  carriages  of  visitors 
and  those  attending  funerals,  and  of  the  heavy 
wagons  used  in  hauling  stone  from  the  quarries,  and 
monuments  and  other  materials,  over  the  grounds. 

From  an  accurate  list  kept  for  one  month ,  during 
the  last  spring,  it  appears  that  ninety  funerals,  ac¬ 
companied  by  eight  hundred  and  fifty-five  carriages, 
passed  through  the  gateway  in  that  time,  making  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ten  passages  over  the 
roads,  in  and  out,  exclusive  of  those  of  carriages  of  vis¬ 
itors,  and  of  wagons.  The  number  in  the  same  time  of 
the  year  before,  was  about  the  sani3.  From  this  fact 
some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  force  of  laborers 
necessary,  and  the  cost  of  keeping  the  principal  roads 
and  avenues,  now  nearly  ten  miles  in  length,  in  good 
order. 

The  number  of  laborers  employed  on  the  grounds 
varies  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  in  the  summer,  and 
from  twenty-five  to  fifty  in  the  winter. 

In  reference  to  the  price  of  lots,  the  company  has 
established  certain  fixed  rates,  which  they  believe 
will  be  considered  just  and  equitable,  when  the  pecu- 


Report  of  Superintendent. 


91 


liar  advantages  of  the  situation,  and  the  protection 
and  security  afforded  by  the  charter  for  all  time  to 
come,  are  taken  into  view. 

The  charge  for  a  single  interment  of  an  adult, 
ranges  from  $10  to  $25.  In  cases  where  the  party  or 
his  or  her  friends  are  not  able  to  pay  that  amount,  a 
still  less  sum  is  required ;  and  in  extreme  cases, 
the  cost  of  digging  the  grave  alone  is  charged.  Half¬ 
lots,  affording  space  for  eight  or  ten  interments,  are 
sold  at  prices  ranging  from  $75  to  $200.  Family  lots 
containing  300  superficial  feet,  and  affording  space 
for  twelve  to  fifteen  interments,  are  sold  at  prices 
ranging  from  $200  to  $600,  according  to  location. 
As  in  cities  and  elsewhere,  location ,  and  the  beauty 
and  other  advantages  of  particular  spots,  is  regarded 
in  fixing  prices.  On  this  account,  when  parties 
known  to  be  in  affluent  circumstances  select  six, 
eight  or  ten  family  lots,  in  the  most  prominent  and 
desirable  situations,  as  is  sometimes  done,  corres¬ 
ponding  prices  are  expected,  which  are  generally  ar¬ 
ranged  by  private  agreement  with  the  superintendent, 
on  terms  satisfactory  to  both  parties. 

In  no  instance  will  the  price  of  a  family  burial  lot 
in  the  Cemetery  of  300  superficial  feet,  be  equal  to  the 
one-tenth,  often  the  one-twentieth  of  the  prices  paid 
per  foot  for  sites  on  the  principal  streets  in  the  city 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  banking  and  business 
houses. 


92 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


In  a  number  of  the  older  Cemeteries  of  the  country 
inclosures  of  all  kinds  around  private  family  lots  are 
prohibited;  in  others  they  are  permitted  only  to  a 
limited  extent,  being  considered  neither  tasteful, 
necessary  or  durable,  and  as  detracting  greatly  from 
the  apppearance  of  the  grounds.  Iron  fences  become 
corroded  and  defaced  with  rust  in  a  few  years,  and 
even  hedges  of  the  most  approved  shrubs,  on  many 
accounts,  are  objectionable,  and  are  found  by  expe¬ 
rience  not  to  be  able  to  withstand  the  severe  frosts  of 
the  winters  of  this  climate.  Curbs  and  corner  posts 
of  granite,  marble,  or  some  of  the  durable  stones,  are 
strongly  recommended  in  their  stead. 

JOHN  CHISLETT, 

Sup  erintendent. 


FRONT  OF  OFFIC 


Office  Building. 


93 


THE  OFFICE  BUILDING. 


The  building  is  located  between  the  two  entrance 
gates,  immediately  inside  of  the  main  entrance,  with 
which  it  is  connected  by  an  open  arched  colonnade. 
Its  principal  front  is  towards  the  gate  lodge,  and  has 
a  southerly  exposure — (the  main  gate  is  located  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  road).  Its  other  front  (east) 
is  turned  towards  the  road  leading  from  Butler  street 
into  the  grounds,  an  area  of  intervening  ground  being 
preserved  for  embellishment,  such  as  flower  bed,  a 
fountain,  &c. 

The  other  side  of  the  building  (north  and  west) 
being  exposed  to  view  from  Butler  street,  proper  care 
has  been  taken  in  construction,  style  and  workman¬ 
ship,  to  present  an  attractive  and  finished  appearance. 

The  style  adopted  for  the  building  is  the  pure 
Gothic,  thereby  being  in  general  harmony  with  the 
old  principal  entrance  gate  and  the  gate-lodge,  both 
having  the  same  style  of  architecture. 

The  Gothic  seemed  to  be  the  more  appropriate,  as 
it  is  the  style  generated  and  developed  by  the  rise 
and  progress  of  the  Christian  religion,  expressive  of 
that  solemnity  and  dignity  proper  in  structures  for 


94 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


religious  and  Cemetery  purposes.  Besides,  this  style 
not  only  admits,  but  requires  variety  in  the  general 
arrangement  or  clustering  of  masses,  as  well  as  in  the 
details;  it  enables  thus  to  arrange  the  rooms  in  a 
comparatively  free  and  unconstrained  manner,  as 
may  most  completely  answer  the  purposes  for  which 
they  are  to  be  used ;  to  produce  a  varied  and  bold 
sky-line,  by  the  properly  topping  out  of  the  masses, 
and  deep  and  broad  shadows  by  the  projecting  or  re¬ 
ceding  portions  of  the  structure,  and  finally  to  attract 
by  a  variety  of  detail  and  ornamentation,  though 
these  may  be  simple  and  applied  only  with  due 
reserve. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

The  building  is  constructed  of  stone  and  brick. 
The  finishing  of  the  rooms,  doors,  &c.,  is  of  solid 
walnut.  Great  care  has  been  taken  to  prepare  the 
foundations  in  the  most  substantial  manner. 

All  outside  surfaces  of  the  walls  are  dressed  stone, 
and  backed  with  brick ;  and  all  interior  partitions 
are  built  of  stone. 

The  building  is  two  stories  high,  with  a  tower  at¬ 
tached  of  five  stories — the  first  story  15  feet  high,  the 
second  story  14  feet  high.  The  first  story  contains 
an  arched  colonnade,  10  feet  wide  by  50  feet  long ;  a 
waiting-room,  20  by  30  feet,  with  a  small  ladies’ 
dressing-room  attached ;  the  office,  16  by  20  feet ;  a 


Office  Building. 


95 


stair  hall,  14  feet  9  inches  by  19  feet  4  inches,  con¬ 
taining  half-circular  stairs ;  besides  vestibules,  fire¬ 
proof  vault,  water-closets,*  &c.  The  second  story 
contains  the  managed  and  treasurer’s  room,  20  by  30 
feet ;  the  superintendent’s  office,  16  by  20  feet,  with 
vault  attached — the  stair-hall  and  small  room  in  the 
tower  having  a  winding  stairs  leading  into  the  upper 
rooms  of  the  same. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

Entering  through  the  small  gate  of  the  main  en¬ 
trance,  you  enter  the  arcade ;  a  door  opens  from  the 
latter  directly  into  the  waiting-room,  a  room  used 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitors  to  the  Cemetery 
grounds ;  from  this  room  a  door  leads  to  a  ladies’ 
dressing-room,  and  another  to  the  stair-hall.  A  door 
at  the  end  of  the  arcade  leads  through  a  small  arched 
vestibule  into  the  general  office,  located  on  the  south¬ 
eastern  corner  of  the  building,  having  two  windows 
looking  towards  the  Cemetery  grounds,  and  two 
towards  the  front  road- way  ;  connected  with  this,  as 
with  all  of  the  offices,  is  a  fire-proof  vault.  A  door 
in  this  room  connects  with  the  stair-hall.  Besides 
the  outside  doors  under  the  arcade,  there  is  a  side- 
entrance  provided  on  the  eastern  front,  through  the 
tower,  opening  into  a  vestibule  under  the  tower, 
which  connects  with  the  stair-hall  by  an  arched 
opening.  A  solidly  built  half-circular  flight  of  stairs, 


96 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


executed  in  black  walnut,  leads  up  to  the  second 
story  hall,  from  which  the  managers’  and  treasurer’s 
room  (located  above  the  waiting-room)  and  the  office 
of  the  superintendent  (located  above  the  general 
office)  are  reached ;  from  this  hall  a  door  leads  into 
the  tower,  and  a  circular  stairway  in  the  same  up  into 
the  clock-room. 

The  extreme  height  of  the  tower  is  eighty  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  in  its  upper 
story  it  carries  a  signal  bell  of  4,072  pounds,  and  in 
the  story  below  the  same,  a  clock,  having  four  faces, 
two  of  which  are  illuminated. 

EXTERIOR  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

The  arcade  consists  of  five  arches,  and  has  a 
grained  arched  ceiling ;  it  is  supported  on  piers  with 
columns  attached,  and  braced  by  light  buttresses 
surmounted  by  pinnacles  rising  above  the  ornamen¬ 
tal  arcade  cornice.  The  end  of  the  arcade  is  received 
against  the  projecting  part  of  the  building  containing 
the  general  office.  This  part,  the  portion  of  the 
building  containing  the  waiting  and  managers’  rooms, 
and  the  stair-hall,  are  all  carried  up  two  stories,  but 
not  of  uniform  heights,  the  tower  high  above  them, 
the  ladies’  dressing-room  only  one  story,  all  clustered 
to  form  a  sky-line  of  picturesque  appearance. 

The  part  containing  the  waiting-room  forms  the 
principal  body ;  it  is  topped  out  with  battlemented 


Office  Building. 


97 


cornice,  a  turret  on  each  of  its  four  corners,  and  a 
gable  on  its  principal  front.  The  office  part,  some¬ 
what  lower  than  the  one  before  mentioned,  has  also 
a  battlemented  cornice ;  in  its  second  story  an  oriel 
window  is  built  out,  which  not  only  greatly  beauti¬ 
fies  the  outside  appearance,  but  is  also  of  utility  in 
affording  from  the  superintendent’s  office  a  view 
towards  the  gateway  and  the  grounds. 

The  design  and  plans  were  drawn  by  Mr.  Moser, 
of  the  firm  of  Barr  &  Moser,  architects,  of  this  city. 
The  stonework  was  executed  by  Messrs.  John  and 
George  Hinchliff,  contractors,  in  stone  from  the 
quarries  near  Massillon,  Ohio. 


98 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


THE  RECEIVING  VAULT. 


Soon  after  the  Report  of  1857  the  Receiving  Vault 
was  completed,  and  the  following  description  was 
submitted  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Chislett,  together  with 
a  series  of  rules  adopted  by  the  board  of  directors  for 
its  management. 

The  Mausoleum,  or  Receiving  Vault,  is  a  great 
acquisition  to  the  Cemetery,  and  no  less  an  ornament 
to  the  grounds.  Indeed  the  want  of  a  Receiving 
Vault  in  the  central  part  of  the  city  is  no  longer  re¬ 
garded  as  an  inconvenience.  It  is  designed  in  the 
Gothic  style  of  architecture,  with  a  front  of  fifty- 
five  feet,  and  thirty  feet  in  height.  Its  internal  ac¬ 
commodations  will  be  ample  for  any  emergency  the 
city,  with  its  present  population,  may  require,  and  is 
so  constructed,  that  at  any  time  it  can  be  enlarged, 
ad  lib.  Its  arrangements  consist  of  a  central  hall 
or  corridor,  twenty-five  feet  in  length  and  nine  feet  in 
width,  and  on  each  side  recesses,  fitted  up  with  her¬ 
metically  closed  cells,  capable  of  containing  sixty 
cases.  In  addition  to  this,  there  is  a  separate  apart¬ 
ment  for  the  accommodation  of  those  doubtful  cases  of 


w 

H 


Receiving  Vault. 


99 


decease  which  sometimes  occur,  where  life  seems  held 
suspended  between  this  and  the  future  world.  Here 
they  can  find  temporary  repose,  under  the  watchful 
care  and  attention  of  friends,  until  all  doubt  shall 
have  passed  away, 

The  inside  will  be  arched  and  groined,  and  made 
as  secure  as  the  skill  of  our  artisans  .can  devise. 
The  material  used  in  its  construction  is  a  brown 
.  Freeport  stone,  of  handsome  retiring  color,  and  of 
great  durability.  Although  its  architectural  charac¬ 
ter  will  not  be  as  elaborate  as  in  many  buildings  of 
this  kind,  yet  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  its  simple  fea¬ 
tures  will  be  expressive  of  the  purpose  for  which  it 
is  designed.  And  here  it  may  be  remarked,  that 
good  taste  would  dictate  that  all  sepulchral  erections 
should  be  free  from  that  false  imitation  and  meretri¬ 
cious  ornament,  which  too  often  characterize  the 
monuments  of  our  day.  Simplicity  of  form  and  per¬ 
manency  of  character  are  much  preferable  to  more 
elaborate  erections,  which  express  nothing  in  their 
design ;  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  Gothic  style 
should  be  recommended,  as  being  the  most  expressive 
of  the  Christian’s  hope.  Fagan  forms  and  devices, 
at  their  best,  are  ill  adapted  for  a  Christian  burial 
ground. 

The  position  of  this  vault  is  nearly  in  the  centre  of 
the  Cemetery,  on  elevated  ground,  where  it  will  be 
readily  accessible  from  each  entrance.  A  recent  writer 


100 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


has  described  the  church  of  St.  Michans,  in  Ireland, 
and  that  of  Kreutzburg,  near  Bon,  on  the  Continent, 
as  being  built  on  absorbent  soils  of  this  kind,  and 
where  the  interments  made  in  their  vaults  have  been 
preserved  quite  perfect  for  more  than  half  a  century 
without  any  apparent  sign  of  decomposition.  The 
antiseptic  character  of  the  soil  is  very  conspicuous, 
nearly  throughout  the  Cemetery,  being  composed  of 
argillaceous  sand  and  gravel ;  and  this  is  remarkably  , 
the  case  where  this  Vault  is  being  erected,  its  base 
resting  on  a  bed  of  this  sand  and  gravel  of  great  depth, 
and  where  there  is  no  appearance  of  moisture  or 
dampness. 


RULES  FOR  THE  RECEIVING  VAULT. 

As  this  Vault  is  erected  to  supply  the  urgent 
necessities  of  those  who  may  not  he  prepared  for 
permanent  interment,  the  following  Rules  have  been 
adopted  for  its  government : 

1.  For  opening  and  closing  the  Vault  at  any  one 

time,  a  charge  will  be  ma4e  of  $1.00. 

f 

2.  For  each  interment  therein,  and  allowing  the 
corpse  to  remain  there  not  over  one  week,  $5.00. 

3.  For  every  week  over  the  first  week,  and  not 
exceeding  one  month,  $1.00  per  week. 


Receiving  Vault. 


101 


4.  For  every  week  exceeding  one  month,  $2.00 
per  week. 

No  corpse  will  be  allowed  to  remain  in  the  Vault 
over  two  months,  except  in  seasons  of  inclement 
weather,  or  other  unavoidable  necessities ;  and  in 
those  cases  only  by  special  permission  from  the 
Board. 

5.  All  interments  made  in  this  Vault  must  be 
in  strong  hermetically-closed  cases. 

The  cases  will  all  he  numbered  and  registered 
when  deposited,  so  as  to  avoid  all  mistakes ;  and 
careful  persons  kept  in  attendance,  to  render  such 
assistance  to  the  bereaved,  by  watching  or  other¬ 
wise,  as  may  tend  to  alleviate  the  feelings,  and  pro¬ 
mote  neatness  and  order  in  all  its  arrangements. 


102 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Organized,  1844. 


OFFICERS  AT  DATE  OF  ORGANIZATION : 
Richard  Biddle,  President. 

MANAGERS: 

Charles  Avery,  James  R.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Thomas  Bakewell, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Thomas  M.  Howe. 

Nathaniel  Holmes,  Thomas  J.  Bigham, 

Treasurer.  Secretary. 

John  Chislett,  Superintendent. 


OFFICERS  AT  DATE  OF  ERECTION  OF 
THIS  BUILDING,  1872 : 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President ,  (Elected  1846.) 


MANAGERS: 

Wilson  McCandless, 

Elected  1844. 

John  H.  Shoenberger, 

Elected  1844. 

James  R.  Speer, 

Elected  1844. 


Jas.  K.  Moorhead, 
Elected  1850. 

Francis  G.  Bailey, 

Elected  1852. 

William  Thaw, 


Elected  1865. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

John  Chislett,  Jr.,  Superintendent. 


John  Chislett,  Sr.,  was  elected  Superintendent  by 
the  first  Board,  and  held  the  office  from  that  time  till 
the  date  of  his  death,  January  29,  1869. 


Marble  Tablet  in  Reception  Room. 


Corporators. 


103 


ORIGINAL  CORPORATORS. 


Thos.  Bakewell, 
James  R.  Speer, 

Wm.  Robinson,  Jr., 
John  Freeman, 

E.  W.  Stephens, 

T.  M.  Howe, 

John  Chislett, 

T.  J.  Bigham, 

Wm.  J.  Totten, 

H.  D.  Sellers, 

Fred.  Lorenz, 

Chas.  Avery, 

Geo.  Hogg, 

Jno.  H.  Shoenberger, 
H.  Childs, 

Jacob  Painter, 

Jno.  Bissell, 

H.  Sterling, 

A.  M.  Bryan, 

Wm.  Lippincott, 


Dr.  Wm.  Kerr, 

E.  D.  Gazzam, 

R.  S.  Cassatt, 

Wm.  Eichbaum, 

F.  G.  Bailey, 
Harmar  Denny, 

R.  C.  Grier, 

George  W.  Jackson, 
Josiah  King, 

Charles  Brewer, 

W.  McCandless, 
James  S.  Craft, 
George  Ogden, 
Pollard  McCormick, 
Jas.  Laughlin, 
Richard  Biddle, 
John  D.  McCord, 
Robt.  Beer, 

Thomas  Irwin, 
Nathaniel  Holmes. 


104 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


DECEASED  CORPORATORS  OF  ORIGINAL  LIST. 


Thos.  Bake  well, 
Win .  Robinson,  Jr., 
John  Freeman, 
John  Chislett,  Sr., 
Win.  Totten, 

H.  D.  Sellers, 

Fred.  Lorenz, 
Charles  Avery, 
George  Hogg, 

John  Bissell, 

Henry  Sterling, 

A.  M.  Bryan, 

Wm.  Lippincott, 


Dr.  Wm.  Kerr, 
Wm.  Eichbaum, 

F.  G.  Bailey, 
Harmar  Denny, 

R.  C.  Grier, 

Geo.  W.  Jackson, 
Charles  Brewer, 
James  S.  Craft, 
George  Ogden, 

*  Nathaniel  Holmes, 
Pollard  McCormick, 
Richard  Biddle, 
Thomas  Irwin. 


NEW  MEMBERS  ELECTED  AT  DIFFERENT  TIMES  TO  FILL 
VACANCIES. 


Jesse  Carothers, 

A.  Culbertson, 
William  Holmes, 
C.  F.  Spang, 

R.  W.  Poindexter, 
C.  S.  Bradford, 
John  Finney, 

John  Bissell,  Jr., 
Samuel  Bailey, 
John  Graham, 


G.  W.  Cass, 

W.  K.  Nimick, 
Charles  Hays, 
George  Black, 

Jas.  B.  Murray, 

F.  Sellers, 

John  Chislett,  Jr., 
James  M.  Cooper, 
James  Park,  Jr., 

H.  W.  Williams, 


Corporators. 


105 


Wm.  Bagaley, 
Win.  B.  McClure, 
N.  Dyke, 

W.  M.  Shinn, 


Wm.  Thaw, 

H.  J.  Lynch, 
Samuel  Bea, 

J.  K.  Moorhead. 


NEW  MEMBERS  DECEASED. 


John  Finney,  John  Graham, 

N.  Dyke,  B.  W.  Poindexter, 

W.  B.  McClure,  Geo.  W.  Black, 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  James  M.  Cooper. 

W.  M.  Shinn, 

Deceased  of  original  corporators,  26 
“  of  new  members,  -  9 


8 


106 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


(liters  anb  Managers  of  tlje  lUlcgjmii)  Cemetern, 

FROM  THE  BEGINNING. 


FIRST  ELECTION  HELD  IN  1844. 

Eichard  Biddle,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Charles  Avery,  James  E.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Thos.  Bakewell, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Thomas  M.  Howe. 

Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer. 

Thos.  J.  Bigham,  Secretary. 


SECOND  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1845. 

Thomas  Irwin,  President . 

MANAGERS. 

Charles  Avery,  Thos.  Bakewell, 

Wilson  McCandless,  James  E.  Speer, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Thomas  M.  Howe. 

Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer. 

Jesse  Carothers,  Secretary. 


THIRD  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1846. 

Thomas  Irwin,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Charles  Avery,  John  Bissell, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  J ames  E.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Thomas  M.  Howe. 

Nathaniel  Holmes,  Treasurer. 

Jesse  Carothers,  Secretary. 


Officers  and  Managers. 


107 


FOURTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1847. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  James  R.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  Jesse  Carothers, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Nathaniel  Holmes. 

John  Finney,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


FIFTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1848. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  James  R.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  Jesse  Carothers, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Nathaniel  Holmes. 

John  Finney,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


SIXTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1849. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  James  R.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Nathaniel  Holmes. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Jesse  Carothers. 

John  Finney,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


SEVENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1850. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Jesse  Carothers, 

James  R.  Speer,  J.  K.  Moorhead. 

John  Finney,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


108 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


EIGHTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1851. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Jesse  Carothers, 

James  R.  Speer,  .  J.  K.  Moorhead. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


NINTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1852. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  James  R.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


TENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1853. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  James  R.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


ELEVENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1854. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  James  R.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


Officers  and  Managers. 


109 


TWELFTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1855. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  Bissell,  .  James  B.  Speer, 

Wilson  McCandless,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


THIRTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1856. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  James  B.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey, 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


FOURTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1857. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS  . 

Wilson  McCandless,  '  James  B.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


FIFTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1858. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS 

James  B.  Speer,  Francis  G.  Bailey, 

John  Bissell,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  Wilson  McCandless. 

John  Bissell,  Jr.,  Secretary  and  Ireasurer. 


110 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


SIXTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1859. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  James  R.  Speer, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  John  Bissell. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


SEVENTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1860. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

James  R.  Speer,  Wilson  McCandless, 

John  Bissell,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


EIGHTEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1861. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

James  R.  Speer,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

John  Bissell,  Wilson  McCandless, 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

1ST.  Dyke,  Secrrtary  and  Treasurer. 


NINETEENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1862. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  James  R.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  J.  K.  Moorhead. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


Officers  and  Managers. 


Ill 


TWENTIETH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1863. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  James  R.  Speer, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

John  Bissell,  J.  K.  Moorhead. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


TWENTY-FIRST  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1864. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  James  R.  Speer, 

John  Bijssell,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

1ST.  Ryke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer . 


TWENTY-SECOND  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1865. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  President 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  James  R.  Speer, 

John  Bissell,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

Wilson  McCandless,  Francis  G.  Bailey. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


TWENTY-THIRD  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1866. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  John  H.  Shoenberger, 

William  Thaw,  Francis  G.  Bailey, 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  James  R.  Speer. 

N.  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


112 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


TWENTY-FOURTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1867. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

Wilson  McCandless,  Francis  G.  Bailey, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

James  B.  Speer,  William  Thaw. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer . 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1868. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

James  R.  Speer,  Wilson  McCandless, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  William  Thaw. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer . 


TWENTY-SIXTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1869. 
Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  William  Thaw, 

James  R.  Speer,  Wilson  McCandless. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1870. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  Wilson  McCandless, 

James  R.  Speer,  J.  K.  Moorhead, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  William  Thaw. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


JAMES  WOOD 


— . . . .  11  - 


Officers  and  Managers. 


113 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1871. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  William  Thaw, 

James  R.  Speer,  Wilson  McCandless, 

Francis  G.  Bailey,  J.  K.  Moorhead. 

Samuel  Gormly,  Secretary  and  Treasurer . 


TWENTY-NINTH  ELECTION,  HELD  IN  1872. 

Thomas  M.  Howe,  President. 

MANAGERS. 

J.  K.  Moorhead,  Wilson  McCandless, 

John  H.  Shoenberger,  William  Thaw, 

James  R.  Speer,  William  Holmes. 

J.  R.  Speer,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


I 


114 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 


CONDITIONS,  LIMITATIONS  AND  PRIVILEGES,  TO  WHICH 
EVERY  LOT  IN  ALLEGHENY  CEMETERY  IS  SUBJECT. 


I.  The  proprietor  of  the  lot  shall  have  a  right  to 
enclose  the  same  with  a  wall  or  fence,  not  exceeding 
eighteen  inches  in  height,  exclusive  of  the  railing, 
which  shall  he  placed  on  the  lines  of  said  lot. 

II.  The  said  lot  shall  not  he  used  for  any  other 
purpose  than  as  a  place  of  hurial  for  the  dead,  and 
no  trees  within  the  lot  or  border  shall  he  cut  down 
or  destroyed  without  the  consent  of  the  managers  of 
the  said  corporation. 

III.  The  proprietor  of  the  said  lot  shall  have  the 
right  to  erect  proper  stones,  monuments,  or  sepul¬ 
chral  structures,  (except  that  no  slah  shall  he  set  on 
edge  over  one  foot  six  inches  in  height,  unless  it  be 
four  inches  in  thickness,)  and  to  cultivate  trees, 
shrubs  and  plants  in  the  same. 

IV.  The  proprietor  of  the  said  lot  shall  erect  at 
his  or  her  expense,  suitable  land-marks  of  stone  or 
iron,  at  the  corners  thereof,  and  shall  also  cause 
the  number  thereof  to  be  legibly  and  permanently 
marked  on  the  premises.  And  if  the  proprietor 


Rules  and  Regulations. 


115 


shall  omit  for  thirty  days,  after  notice,  to  erect  such 
land-marks  and  mark  the  number,  the  managers 
shall  have  the  authority  to  cause  the  same  to  be  done 
at  the  expense  of  said  proprietor. 

Y.  If  the  land-marks  and  boundaries  of  said  lot 
shall  be  effaced,  so  that  the  lot  cannot  with  reason¬ 
able  diligence  be  found  and  identified,  the  managers 
shall  set  off  to  the  said  grantee,  his  or  her  heirs  or 
assigns,  a  lot  in  lieu  thereof,  in  such  part  of  the 
Cemetery  as  they  see  fit,  and  the  lot  hereby  granted 
shall,  in  such  case,  revert  to  the  corporation. 

VI.  If  any  trees  or  shrubs  situated  in  said  lot, 
shall,  by  means  of  their  roots,  branches,  or  other¬ 
wise,  become  detrimental  to  the  adjacent  lots  or  ave¬ 
nues,  or  dangerous  or  inconvenient  to  passengers,  it 
shall  be  the  1  duty  of  the  said  managers,  for  the  time 
being,  and  they  shall  have  the  right,  to  enter  into 
the  said  lot,  and  remove  the  said  trees  and  shrubs,  or 
such  parts  thereof  as  are  thus  detrimental,  dangerous 
or  inconvenient. 

VII.  If  any  monument  or  effigy,  or  any  structure 
whatever,  or  any  inscription,  be  placed  in  or  upon 
said  lot,  which  shall  be  determined  by  the  major 
part  of  said  managers,  for  the  time  being,  to  be  offen¬ 
sive  or  improper,  the  said  managers,  or  the  major 
part  of  them,  shall  have  the  right,  and  it  shall  be 
their  duty,  to  enter  upon  said  lot,  and  remove  the 
said  offensive  or  improper  object  or  objects. 


116 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


VIII.  No  fence  shall  at  any  time  be  placed  or 
erected  in  or  around  any  lot,  the  materials  or  design 
of  which  shall  not  first  have  been  approved  by  the 
managers,  or  a  committee  of  them. 

IX.  The  said  lot  shall  be  holden  subject  to  the 
provisions  contained  in  an  Act  of  the  General  As¬ 
sembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  passed 
the  24th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1844,  entitled  “An  Act 
to  incorporate  Allegheny  Cemetery,  in  Allegheny 
County.”  And  also  subject  to  the  rules  and  regula¬ 
tions  which  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  adopted  for 
the  government  of  said  Cemetery. 

X.  All  interments  in  lots  shall  be  restricted  to 
the  members  of  the  family  and  relatives  of  the  pro¬ 
prietors  thereof,  except  special  permission  to  the  con¬ 
trary  be  obtained,  in  writing,  at  the  office  of  the 
corporation ;  and  no  disinterment  shall  be  allowed, 
without  permission  from  the  corporation. 


Regulations  Concerning  Visitors.  117 


REGULATIONS 

CONCERNING  VISITORS. 


The  secretary  will  issue  to  each  proprietor  of  one 
or  more  lots,  one  ticket  of  admission  into  the  Ceme¬ 
tery,  under  the  following  regulations,  the  violation 
of  any  of  which,  or  a  loan  of  the  ticket,  involves  a 
forfeiture  of  the  privilege. 

I.  No  person  is  admitted  on  horseback,  or  with  a 
dog. 

IT.  No  person,  with  or  without  a  vehicle,  is 
admitted,  unless  accompanied  by  a  proprietor,  or 
a  member  of  his  or  her  household,  with  his  or  her 
ticket ;  but  the  managers  may  grant  special  tickets 
of  admission. 

III.  No  vehicle  is  to  be  driven  in  the  Cemetery, 
at  a  gate  faster  than  a  walk. 

IV.  No  horse  is  to  be  fastened,  except  at  a  post 
provided  for  this  purpose.  No  horse  is  to  be  left 
unfastened,  without  a  keeper. 

V.  All  persons  are  prohibited  from  gathering  any 
flowers,  either  wild  or  cultivated,  or  breaking  any 
tree,  shrub  or  plant. 


118 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


VI.  All  persons  are  prohibited  from  writing 
upon,  defacing  or  injuring  any  monument,  fence  or 
other  structure,  in  or  belonging  to  the  Cemetery. 

VII.  All  persons  are  prohibited  from  discharging 
fire-arms  in  the  Cemetery. 

VIII.  The  gates  are  opened  at  sunrise,  and  closed 
at  sunset. 

IX.  No  money  is  to  be  paid  to  the  porter. 

X.  Xo  persons  are  admitted  on  Sundays  and 
holidays,  excepting  proprietors  and  members  of 
their  household,  and  persons  accompanying  them. 

XI.  Children  will  not  be  admitted  without  their 
parents  or  guardians. 

XII.  Xo  persons  having  refreshments  of  any 
kind,  will  be  permitted  to  come  within  the  grounds, 
nor  will  any  smoking  be  allowed. 

XIII.  Persons  having  baskets,  or  any  like  article, 
must  leave  them  in  charge  of  the  porter. 

XIV.  Any  person  disturbing  the  quiet  and  good 
order  of  the  place,  by  noise  or  other  improper  con¬ 
duct — or  who  shall  violate  any  of  the  foregoing 
rules — will  be  compelled  instantly  to  leave  the 
grounds. 

XV.  The  superintendent  is  charged  with  the  ex¬ 
ecution  of  these  rules  and  regulations. 

Note. — Holders  of  proprietor’s  tickets  will  please  bear  in  mind  that  they 
are  not  transferable.  They  will  not  be  recognized  to  admit  others  than 
members  of  the  proprietor’s  family,  unless  accompanied  by  some  member 
thereof. 


Rules  in  Regard  to  Interments.  119 


RULES 

I  N 

REGARD  TO  INTERMENTS. 


The  sexton,  with  his  family,  resides  in  the  Ceme¬ 
tery,  and  will  always  be  in  attendance  at  funerals, 
to  see  that  order  and  decorum  prevails. 

All  persons  wishing  to  make  interments  in  the 
Cemetery,  must  furnish  at  the  office  a  statement  of 
the  name,  place  of  birth,  place  of  late  residence,  age 
in  years,  months  and  days,  and  the  disease  of  the 
person  to  be  interred,  and  also  whether  married  or 
single ;  that  an  accurate  registry  of  the  same  may  be 
made  on  the  books  of  the  Cemetery. 

All  interments  made  from  within  the  limits  of  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh,  must  be  accompanied  with  permit 
from  Board  of  Health,  and  physician’s  certificate  of 
the  decease ;  and  all  interments  in  private  lots  will 
be  subject  to  the  following  charges,  which,  in  all 
cases,  must  be  paid  before  the  interment  take  place. 


120 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


OPENING,  CLOSING  AND  SODDING  OF  GRAVES. 

Adult  graves,  usual  depth  of  six  feet,  -  -  $5  00 

for  each  additional  foot  over 

six  feet,  -  50 

Children’s  graves,  under  ten  years,  usual 

depth  of  six  feet,  -  4  00 

for  each  additional  foot 

over  six  feet,  -  50 

All  foundations  for  monuments,  headstones,  &c., 
must  he  six  feet  in  depth. 

All  notices  for  interments  should  he  given  at  the 
office  of  the  Cemetery  on  the  day  previous  to  the 
interment,  if  possible,  or  at  least  six  hours  previous, 
that  the  grave  may  be  prepared  in  due  time  ;  and  all 
brick  vaulted  graves  should  have  twenty-four  hours 
notice  given  for  preparation. 

When  interments  are  made  in  private  lots,  some 
of  the  parties  interested  should  be  in  attendance  to 
designate  the  exact  spot  they  wish  the  grave  made, 
as  the  sexton  cannot  be  responsible  for  errors  which 
might  occur  from  want  of  such  information. 


Suggestions  in  regard  to  Improvements.  121 


i. 

SUGGESTIONS 

II  REGARD  TO  I IPROYEMEITS. 


It  must  be  evident  to  all  proprietors  of  lots  that 
the  neatness  and  order  of  each  individual  lot,  no 
less  than  the  character  and  style  of  the  improve¬ 
ment,  are  essential  to  the  well-being  of  the  Cemetery 
at  large.  In  order  to  render  lot-owners  every  facil¬ 
ity  in  this  respect,  the  company  have  adopted  a 
system  styled  the  “Improvement  Plan”  by  which  pro¬ 
prietors,  who  may  be  so  situated  as  to  make  it  incon¬ 
venient  for  them  to  attend  to  their  own  lots,  may 
avail  themselves  of  this  arrangement.  Each  lot 
entered  on  the  Improvement  List  will  be  kept  in 
perfect  order  throughout  the  year,  and  mown  as  often 
as  necessary,  and  all  the  plants  and  shrubbery  pro¬ 
perly  cared  for.  As  experienced  hands  are  con¬ 
stantly  kept  for  this  purpose,  it  will  be  done  at  a  cost 
much  less  than  it  would  be  possible  for  any  private 
individual  to  accomplish  it  for. 

9 


122  The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

The  rate  of  charges  adopted  is  as  follows : 

For  each  first-class  lot,  with  an  ordinary 

amount  of  shrubbery,  $8  per  year. 

For  two  connected  lots  under  one  fence,  10  “  “ 
For  four  “  “  “  “  12  “  “ 

For  lots  containing  an  extra  amount  of  shrubbery, 
&c.,  additional  charges  will  be  made. 


Estimated  Expenditure.  123 

TABLE. 

ESTIMATED  EXPENDITURE  OF  LOT-HOLDERS  FOR  MONU¬ 
MENTS,  HEAD-STONES,  FENCES  AND  CURBS,  IN  THE  DIF¬ 
FERENT  SECTIONS  NOW  OPENED. 


No.  of 
Section. 

Marble. 

Granite. 

Stone. 

Iron. 

Total. 

1 

12,790 

$  2,500 

$  3,600: 

$  1,050 

$  19,940 

2 

22,675 

325 

7,750 

4,765 

36,515 

3 

31,775 

1,750 

5.140 

1,550 

40,215 

4 

15,135 

2,250 

2,180 

315 

19,880 

6 

2,310 

#  # 

1,050 

#  , 

3,360 

7 

25,385 

1,350 

5,635 

3,410 

35,780 

8 

14,640 

5,660 

1,555 

500 

22,355 

9 

22,125 

2,105 

2,645 

26,875 

10 

7,600 

350 

2,332 

,  , 

10,282 

11 

52,725 

6,200 

14,955 

4,125 

78,005 

12 

45,605 

2,175 

9,567 

4,240 

61,587 

13 

38,885 

9,400 

19,785 

1,100 

69,170 

14 

58,985 

2,950 

13,785 

3,650 

79,370 

16 

30,165 

18,100 

11,720 

700 

60,685 

17 

31,375 

1,200 

2,050 

2,465 

37,090 

18 

37,310 

1,300 

17,710 

.  175 

56,495 

19 

56,340 

41,985 

19,405 

1,575 

119,305 

20 

7',245 

11,560 

2,565 

9  # 

21,370 

21 

43.655 

1,475 

17,400 

700 

63,230 

22 

20,595 

,  , 

9,855 

225 

30,675 

23 

22,390 

2,500 

16,523 

.  . 

41,413 

24 

6,940 

1,835 

. 

8,775 

25 

30,585 

3,700 

21,995 

625 

56,905 

26 

1,950 

450 

16,415 

18,815 

29 

25,390 

1,455 

1,770 

28,615 

30 

4,530 

1,780 

275 

6,585 

31 

24,055 

3,400 

'  605 

28,060 

32 

2,030 

580 

i 

2,610 

33 

2,574 

1,160 

i 

3,734 

Single  1 
graves,  J 

5,785 

• 

• 

5,785 

Totals, 

.  $704,549 

>$117,180l$235,287 

$36,465 

i  $1,093,481 

124 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


TABLE, 

SHOWING  THE  ANNUAL  NUMBER  OF  INTERMENTS  FROM 
THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CEMETERY  TO  JAN.  1,  1873. 


Year. 

Original  Interments. 

Removals. 

Total. 

1845 

8 

0 

8 

1846 

29 

38 

67 

1847 

111 

80 

191 

1848 

193 

114 

307 

1849 

275 

324 

599 

1850 

319 

141 

460 

1851 

362 

82 

444 

1852 

381 

57 

438 

1853 

383 

135 

518 

1854 

695 

722 

1,417 

1855 

462 

55 

517 

1856 

407 

44 

451 

1857 

432 

47 

479 

1858 

444 

26 

470 

1859 

500 

48 

548 

1860 

471 

59 

530 

1861 

485 

55 

540 

1862 

630 

25 

655 

1863 

767 

87 

854 

1864 

793 

89 

882 

1865 

659 

85 

744 

1866 

631 

26 

657 

1867 

656 

97 

753 

1868 

696 

78 

774 

1869 

740 

45 

785 

1870 

734 

50 

784 

1871 

832 

54 

886 

1872 

939 

21 

960 

im* 

711 

21 

732 

14,745 

2,705 

17,450 

*  To  June  1st. 


Annual  Interments. 


125 


From  the  foregoing  table  it  will  be  seen  that  from 
the  opening  of  the  Cemetery  in  1845,  to  June  1, 
1873,  17,450  persons  have  been  interred. 

Since  January  1,  1867,  a  period  of  six  and  a  half 
years,  5,329  interments  have  been  made.  Of  this 
number,  808  have  been  of  persons  over  60  years  of 
age.  Their  ages  were  as  follows  : 

From  60  to  70,  317 ;  70  to  80,  291 ;  80  to  90, 162; 
90  to  100,  35 ;  oyer  100  years,  3.  Total,  808.  Av¬ 
erage  age  of  the  whole  number,  over  70  years.. 

It  is  doubted  whether  any  locality  in  the  country 
can  furnish  evidence  equally  strong  of  the  healthful¬ 
ness  of  the  region,  as  shown  by  the  longevity  of  its 
inhabitants. 

Their  nativities  were  as  follows : 


Ireland, 

- 

230 

New  York,  - 

-  16 

Allegheny  Co., 

86 

Scotland,  - 

13 

Pennsylvania, 

117 

Maryland,  - 

-  17 

203 

Virginia,  - 

10 

England,  - 

- 

76 

New  Jersey,  - 

-  8 

Germany,  - 

- 

47 

— 

Wales, 

- 

18 

638 

The  remainder  were  in  small  numbers,  from  dif¬ 
ferent  States  and  countries. 


126  The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


NURSERY  DEPARTMENT 


The  general  appearance  and  character  of  the  Cem¬ 
etery  will  hear  evidence  of  the  propriety  of  the  plan 
adopted  by  the  company  of  keeping  on  the  grounds 
a  small  nursery  of  well  selected  trees  and  shrubs 
suitable  for  ornamenting  the  lots.  By  rendering 
these  facilities  to  those  who  may  not  wish  to  take  the 
trouble  of  procuring  shrubbery  elsewhere,  a  much 
greater  amount  is  planted  out  than  would  otherwise 


be. 


The  list  on  the  following  pages  comprises  the 
leading  varieties,  nearly  all  of  which  have  proved 
perfectly  hardy  on  the  grounds  of  the  Cemetery. 

LIST  OF  TREES  AND  SHRUBS  FOR  SALE  AT  THE  CEMETERY. 


BOTANICAL  NAME. 


COMMON  NAME. 


Abies  Alba. 

“  Canadensis. 
“  Excelsa. 

“  Nigra. 


Spruce,  White. 

“  Hemlock. 
“  Norway. 


Buxus  Arborescens. 


u  Aurea. 


Latifolia. 


“  Black. 

“  Box  Tree. 
u  Upright. 

“  Golden. 


Nursery  Department. 


127 


Juniperus  Communis. 

“  Sabina. 

“  Chinensis. 

u  Suecica. 

u  Virginica. 

Picea  Balsamea. 

Pinus  Austriaca. 

“  Cembra. 

“  Laricio. 

Taxus  Baccata. 

11  Hibernica. 

“  Stricta. 

Thuja  Aurea. 

“  Occidentalis. 

“  Orientalis. 

“  Plicata. 

DECIDUOUS 

BOTANICAL  NAME. 

Acacia  Julibrissin. 

Acer  Dasycarpum. 
u  Negundo. 
u  Pseudo  Platanus. 

“  Saccharinum. 
iEsculus  Hippocastianum. 
Ohiensis. 

Amygdalus  Persica  fl.  pi. 
Azalea  Nudaflora. 

u  Pontica. 
Calycanthus  Floridus. 
Catalpa  Syringsefolia. 


Juniper,  Upright. 
u  Savin. 

cc  Chinese. 

Swedish  Juniper. 

Bed  Cedar, 

Fir,  Balm  of  Gilead. 
Austrian  Pine. 

Siberian  Pine. 

Larch. 

Yew,  English. 

“  Irish. 

66  Upright, 
Arborvitae,  Golden. 

“  American. 

u  Chinese. 

u  Fan-Leaved. 

TREES  AND  PLANTS. 

COMMON  NAME. 

Silk  Tree. 

Silver-Leaved  Maple. 
Ash  “  “ 

English  Sycamore. 

Sugar  Maple. 

Horse  Chestnut. 

Buckeye. 

Double-Flowering  Peach. 
Wood  Honeysuckle. 

“  Yellow. 

Sweet  Scented  Shrub. 
Common  Catalpa. 


128 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Cerasus  Mahaleb. 

“  Multiplex. 

“  Pendula. 

Cercis  Canadensis. 
Chionanthus  Virginica. 
Cydonia  Japonica. 
Cytisus  Laburnum. 
Deutzia  Gracilis, 

“  Scabra, 

“  Crenata, 
Euonymus  Americanus. 
Forsythia  Yiridissima. 
Halesia  Tetraptera. 
Hibiscus  Syriacus,  fl.  pi. 
Larix  Americana. 

u  Europea. 
Ligustrum  Vulgare. 
Liriodendron  Tulipifera. 
Lonicera. 

Magnolia  Acuminata. 
u  Conspicua. 

u  Cordata. 

tc  Glauca. 

u  Purpurea. 

u  Macrophylla. 
u  Tripetala. 

Philadelphus  Coronarius. 

u  Japonicus. 
Populus  Balsamifera. 
u  Dilatata. 


Austrian  Cherry. 
Double-Flowering  Cherry. 
Weeping  Cherry. 

Judas  Tree. 

Fringe  Tree. 

Japan  Quince. 

Golden  Chain. 

)  Ornamental 
j  Shrubs. 

Burning  Bush. 

Golden  Bell. 

Snowdrop  Tree. 
Double-Flowering  Althaea. 
American  Larch. 

European  Larch. 

Common  Privet. 

Tulip  Tree. 

Honeysuckle. 


Mock  Orange. 
Japan  Orange. 
Black  Poplar. 
Lombardy  Poplar. 


CARR 


Nursery  Department. 


129 


And  a  great  variety  of  other  plants  and  shrubs  suitable  for 
ornamenting  borders  and  lots. 

The  Green  House  department  of  the  Cemetery  covers  an 
area  of  6,000  square  feet,  well  stocked  with  a  choice  collection 
of  Green  and  Hot-House  plants,  consisting  of 


Camelias, 

Azaleas, 

Roses  in  variety, 
Geraniums,  “ 
Verbenas,  “ 


Phloxes,  in  great  variety, 
Coleus,  “ 

Ageratums,  “ 

Pansies,  “ 

Daisies,  “  Ac.,  Ac. 


130 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


HEIRSHIP  OF  LOTS  IN  CEMETERY. 


Pittsburgh,  January  31,  1873. 
Dr.  James  R.  Speer  : 

Dear  Sir — In  your  favor  of  Dec.  26, 
1872,  you  inquire  “as  to  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania 
governing  the  heirship  of  lots  in  the  Cemetery  ;  and 
suggesting,  that  in  the  course  of  a  few  generations 
much  annoyance  and  inconvenience  may  arise,  both 
to  the  Cemetery  and  the  owners  of  lots  therein,  on 
this  subject,  and  asking  what  plan,  if  any,  can  be 
adopted  to  avoid  such  difficulties  while  the  ownership 
remains  in  the  first  purchaser.” 

On  the  death  of  the  owner  of  a  lot,  who  dies  in¬ 
testate  and  without  having  made  any  disposition  of 
the  same  by  deed  or  otherwise,  the  lot  descends  to  his 
heirs-at-law,  viz. : 

1st.  To  the  children  of  the  intestate.  Should  any 
have  died,  their  children  will  inherit  the  parent’s 
share,  and  so  on,  in  a  descending  line. 

2d.  In  default  of  any  such  heirs,  to  the  father  and 
mother  of  the  intestate,  during  their  joint  lives  and 
the  life  of  the  survivor. 

3d.  In  default  of  such  heirs,  to  the  brothers  and 


Heirship  of  Lots.  131 

sisters  of  the  blood  of  the  intestate,  and  their  de¬ 
scendants. 

4th.  In  default  of  such  heirs,  to  the  father  and 
mother  of  the  intestate  in  fee. 

The  heirs-at-law  have  jointly  a  right  to  the  dis¬ 
posal  and  use  of  the  lot ;  neither  of  them  alone  has 
the  right  to  the  disposal  of  it. 

The  wife  of  the  intestate  has  the  same  interest  in 
the  lot  that  she  has  in  other  real  estate  of  the  intes¬ 
tate;  but  her  interest,  so  far  as  the  Cemetery  is  con¬ 
cerned,  is  nominal ;  she  can  neither  dispose  of  it,  or 
order  interments  to  be  made  therein. 

I  would  respectfully  submit  to  the  Cemetery  and 
to  the  lot-holders,  the  following  for  consideration,  in 
order  to  avoid  the  difficulties  apprehended : 

1st.  That  your  deeds  to  purchasers  shall  contain  a 
clause,  that  the  lots  shall  be  held  subject  to  such 
rules  and  regulations  as  may  from  time  to  time  be 
adopted  by  the  board  of  managers  for  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  the  Cemetery,  unless  such  be  the  exisiting 
rule. 

2d.  That  it  be  ascertained  how  many  interments 
can  be  made  with  propriety  in  a  lot  of  a  given  num¬ 
ber  of  feet,  thus  fixing  a  limit  to  the  interments  in 
a  lot. 

3d.  That  where  the  heirs  are  all  of  an  equal 
degree,  the  first  who  is  borne  to  the  lot  for  burial  be 
interred,  and  so  on  until  the  lot  has  received  its 
appropriate  number. 


132 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


4th.  That  the  Cemetery  convey  lots  to  purchasers 
who  may  desire  it,  in  such  a  manner  as  that  the  lots 
shall  forever  thereafter  he  inalienable,  thereby  ren¬ 
dering  it  impossible  for  their  heirs-at-law  to  dispose 
of  the  same.  In  this  way  an  undisturbed  interment 
of  their  own  remains,  and  those  of  their  posterity, 
may  be  made.  Or, 

5th.  Purchasers  desiring  to  do  so,  may  reconvey 
or  devise  to  the  Cemetery  their  lots,  for  the  purpose 
of  restricting  interments  therein  to  such  persons  or 
class  of  persons  as  they  may  designate  in  said  con¬ 
veyance  or  devise,  without  power  in  the  Cemetery  to 
sell  and  convey  said  lots. 

The  above  suggestions  may,  to  some  extent,  avoid 
the  difficulties  you  apprehend. 

Yours  respectfully, 

SAML.  PALMER, 
Solicitor  to  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Deed  to  Purchased. 


133 


FORM  OF  DEED  TO  PURCHASER  OF  LOT. 


Know  all  men  by  these  presents :  That  The  Alle¬ 
gheny  Cemetery,  in  consideration  of . 

dollars,  paid  to  them  by  ....  of  ...  . 

the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  do  here¬ 
by  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  to  the  said  .  .  . 
.  .  .  heirs  and  assigns,  .  .  .  .  lot  of  land  in 

the  Cemetery  of  the  said  corporation  called  “The 
Allegheny  Cemetery/’  situate  in  Collins  township, 
Allegheny  county,  and  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  which  lot  ...  .  delineated  and  laid  down 
on  the  map  or  plan  of  the  said  Cemetery,  as  laid  out 
by  John  Chislett,  Esq.,  in  the  possession  of  the  said 
corporation,  and  ....  therein  designated  by 

the  number . containing . 

superficial  feet.  To  have  and  to  hold  the  herein¬ 
above  granted  premises  to  the  said  ....  heirs 
and  assigns,  forever ;  subject,  however,  to  the  condi¬ 
tions  and  limitations,  and  with  the  privileges  specified 
in  the  rules  and  regulations  hereto  annexed.  And 
the  said  The  Allegheny  Cemetery  do  hereby  cov¬ 
enant  to  and  with  the  said  .  .  .  .  .  heirs  and 

assigns,  that  they  are  lawfully  seized  of  the  herein 


134  The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

above  granted  premises  in  fee  simple  ;  that  they  have 
a  right  to  sell  and  convey  the  same  for  the  purposes 
above  expressed ;  that  the  said  premises  are  free  and 
clear  of  all  charges  and  incumbrances ;  and  that  they 
will  warrant  and  defend  the  same  unto  the  said 
. heirs  and  assigns,  forever. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  The  Allegheny 
Cemetery  have  caused  this  instrument  to  be  signed 
by  their  President,  and  their  common  seal  to  be  here¬ 
unto  affixed,  the  .  .  .  .  day  of . in 

the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  .... 

Countersigned  and  Registered. 

. President. 


.  Secretary. 


Deed  of  Trust. 


135 


ft 


FORM  OF  DEED  OF  TRUST  OR  RE-CON¬ 
VEYANCE  TO  CEMETERY. 


This  Indenture,  made  the  .  .  .  .  day  of 

. 18  .  .  ,  between  ....  of  the 

county  of  Allegheny,  State  of  Pennsylvania,  party  of 
the  first  part,  and  The  Allegheny  Cemetery,  a  corpo¬ 
ration  in  the  county  and  State  aforesaid,  party  of  the 
second  part :  Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the 
first  part,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  one 
dollar,  unto  him  in  hand  well  and  truly  paid  by  the 
said  party  of  the  second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is 
hereby  acknowledged,  has  and  by  these  presents  doth 
sell  and  convey  unto  said  Allegheny  Cemetery  and 

its  successors,  that  certain  lot  No . in  section 

. of  said  Cemetery.  To  have  and  to  hold 

said  lot  in  trust,  nevertheless,  inalienable,  and  for 

the  interment  of . and  for  no  other 

interment. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  seal,  this  day  and  year  above  written. 

In  presence  of  ^  . gd 


Jgigp  In  view  of  the  comparative  shortness  of  life,  and  the  instability  of  hu¬ 
man  affairs,  there  is,  perhaps,  no  surer  or  better  method  by  which  the  owner 
of  a  lot  can  provide  for  its  permanent  care  and  ownership,  than  to  re-convey 
it,  in  trust ,  to  the  Cemetery  Corporation,  after  he  has  made  such  improve¬ 
ments  as  he  desires,  and  placed  with  the  company  a  reasonable  sum  as  an 
endowment;  for  the  reason  that,  so  far  as  careful  legislation  can  secure 
these  objects,  the  corporation  is  endowed  with  a  perpetual  existence ,  and  bound 
faithfully  to  execute  all  trusts  committed  to  its  charge. 


136 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


FORM  OF  BEQUEST  TO  ENDOWMENT  FUND. 


[Form  of  Agreement  between  the  Allegheny  Cemetery 
Company  and  parties  desiring  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  Assembly,  passed 
March  6,  1860,  by  which  the  company  becomes 
obligated  to  have  all  lots  entered  on  the  Endow¬ 
ment  List  kept  perpetually  in  good  order.] 

This  Agreement,  made  this  .  .  day  of  .  .  . 

A.  D.  18  .  . ,  between . of  the  one  part, 

and  the  board  of  managers  of  The  Allegheny  Ceme¬ 
tery,  in  the  county  of  Allegheny  and  State  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  of  the  other  part : 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said . has 

deposited  with  The  Allegheny  Cemetery  Company 

the  sum  of . in  consideration  of  which 

the  said  managers,  for  themselves  and  their  succes¬ 
sors,  hereby  agree  to  receive  and  hold  the  said  sum 
in  trust  forever,  and  invest  the  same  with  other  funds 
of  like  character,  and  to  apply  the  income  therefrom, 
from  time  to  time,  under  the  direction  of  the  mana¬ 
gers  for  the  time  being,  to  the  repair  and  preserva¬ 
tion  of  any  tomb  or  monument,  or  for  planting  or 
cultivating  trees  and  shrubs,  upon  or  in  lot  No.  .  .  . 


I 


Deed  of  Trust.  137 


section  ...  in  the  said  Allegheny  Cemetery*  and 
the  surplus,  if  any,  at  the  end  of  each  year,  to  remain 
as  a  sinking  fund,  to  he  applied  solely  and  exclu¬ 
sively  to  the  repair  and  keeping  in  order  said  lot 
No.  .  .  .  section  .  .  . 

Provided ,  however ,  that  the  said  managers  shall 
never  he  responsible  for  their  conduct  in  the  dis¬ 
charge  of  such  trust,  except  for  good  faith  and  such 
reasonable  diligence  as  may  he  required  of  mere 
gratuitous  agents ;  and  provided,  further,  that  the 
said  managers  shall  in  no  case  be  obliged  to  make 
any  separate  investment  of  the  sum  so  given,  and 
that  the  average  income  derived  from  all  funds  of  the 
like  nature  belonging  to  the  corporation  shall  be 
divided  annually,  and  carried  proportionally  to  the 
credit  of  each  lot  entitled  thereto. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  ....  hereunto 
set  .  .  hand,  and  the  said  managers  of  The  Alle¬ 

gheny  Cemetery  have  hereunto  set  their  corporate 
seal,  together  with  the  signatures  of  their  President 
and  Secretary,  this  .  .  .  day  of  .  .  .  . 

. President. 


Secretary. 


10 


138 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


STATISTICS  TO  BE  FURNISHED  ON  AP¬ 
PLICATION  FOR  BURIAL. 


Allegheny  Cemetery. 

Name  of  Deceased,  . 
Place  of  Nativity,  . 
Late  Residence, 

Date  of  Decease, 
Disease,  .  .  .  . 


No.  .  .  . 


form’  of  order  for  interment. 

No.  .  .  . 


Pittsburgh,  ...  18  .  . 

Superintendent  of  Allegheny  Cemetery: 

You  will  please  . 

Lot  No.  .  .  Sec.  .  .  and  I  will  pay  the 

account  for  the  same. 

Yours,  &c., 


Residence,  . . 

Lots  are  held  as  security  for  all  work  done  on  them. 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


139 


THE  ORNAMENTATION  AND  ARRANGE¬ 
MENT  OF  CEMETERIES. 


It  will  be  remembered  that  shortly  after  the  open¬ 
ing  of  Mount  Auburn,  at  Boston,  visitors  flocked 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  see  for  themselves 
the  arrangements  and  practical  workings  of  the  new 
system. 

All  were  delighted  with  it,  as  a  new  and  important 
advance  in  the  civilization  of  the  age — lifting  from 
the  grave  the  dark  and  gloomy  cloud  that  overhangs 
it,  throwing  around  it  the  rainbow  tints  of  hope 
and  promise — and  suggesting,  by  the  vernal  revival 
and  bloom  of  nature,  the  revival  and  bloom  also  of 
the  immortal  soul  of  man,  and  its  continued  existence 
through  a  period  not  to  be  measured  by  the  solar 
machinery  that  marks  the  flight  of  ages  and  centuries, 
but  by  the  cycle  of  an  endless  eternity. 

The  idea  took  the  country  by  an  agreeable  sur¬ 
prise,  and  in  a  few  years  the  principal  cities  in  the 
Union  had  each  its  beautiful  Cemetery. 

The  style  and  character  of  improvements  and 
ornamentation  proper  for  Cemeteries,  became  matters 


140 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


of  interest  and  discussion  to  architects  and  landscape 
gardeners,  and  more  especially  to  proprietors  of 
Cemeteries  and  burial  lots.  Emulation  soon  sprung 
up  even  between  different  cities,  that  vied  with  each 
other  in  regard  to  the  attractiveness  and  extent  of 
the  grounds  they  had  appropriated  to  this  purpose. 

There  is  reason  to  fear  that  the  highly  cultivated 
sense  of  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art,  in  the  minds 
of  the  parties  controlling  some  of  these  institutions, 
has  led  them  to  trespass  upon  the  more  deep  and 
sacred  sentiments  in  the  breasts  of  persons  and  fami¬ 
lies  who  had  selected  those  spots  for  the  repose  of 
those  most  dear  to  them.  Some  have  gone  so  far  as  to 
merge  the  controlling  idea  of  a  Cemetery  in  that  of 
a  general  park,  whose  lawns  should  rather  be  a  place 
of  general  resort,  attractive  to  mere  seekers  of  pleas¬ 
ure,  or  of  relaxation  from  business  and  the  ordinary 
occupations  of  life. 

There  is  a  marked  significance  in  the  word  Ceme¬ 
tery.  It  is  derived  from  the  Greek,  and  signifies  a 
sleeping  ground.  Embellished  as  it  may  be  with 
landscape  and  lawn,  and  high  ornamentation,  it  is’ 
nevertheless,  a  sleeping  ground,  a  resting  place,  as  it 
were,  for  the  worn-out  traveller  on  his  journey  to  the 
unseen  land — a  gateway  through  which  all  must  pass 
onward,  though  none  are  permitted  to  come  back  to 
revisit  the  scenes  and  friends  they  left  behind  them. 
Its  perspectives  and  back-grounds  are  shadowy  and 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


141 


sombre,  but  to  the  eye  of  enlightened  faith  they  are 
relieved,  softened  and  illuminated  by  the  light  that 
falls  from  above,  bringing  into  view  the  scenery  and 
landscapes  of  a  brighter  and  better  land. 

To  present  the  idea  in  the  words  of  those  who 
advocate  what  is  called  the  Landscape  Lawn  plan,  we 
may  quote  from  a  recent  publication  : 

“  It  is  claimed  that  the  chief  fault  in  the  older 
Cemeteries  is  too  much  ornamentation  of  individual 
lots  without  regard  to  the  general  effect,  while  the 
lawn  plan  aims  rather  to  form  a  consistent  whole, 
than  to  secure  the  adornment  of  particular  spots  ;  in 
fact,  by  obtaining  all  the  landscape  effect  possible,  to 
make  a  beautiful  and  pleasing  picture,  thus  blending 
the  elegance  of  a  park  with  the  pensive  beauty  of  a 
burial  place.” 

The  managers  of  another  Cemetery  have  estab¬ 
lished  the  following  regulations : 

I 

“  All  lot  inclosures  of  any  hind  whatever  are  pro¬ 
hibited.  The  boundaries  of  lots  will  be  marked  at 
the  expense  of  the  Cemetery,  by  galvanized  iron 
plates  fastened  at  the  corners  of  each  lot,  even  with 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  showing,  in  raised  let¬ 
ters  and  figures,  the  number  of  the  lot  and  section. 

“  Only  one  monument  will  be  permitted  to  be  erected 
on  each  lot ,  the  foundations  of  which,  of  solid  ma¬ 
sonry  and  at  least  six  feet  in  depth,  will  be  built  by 
the  company  at  the  expense  of  the  owner. 

“  Head-stones  and  foot-stones  are  prohibited. 


142 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


“  Stone  tablets,  not  exceeding  two  feet  in  length 
and  eighteen  inches  in  width,  laid  horizontally  and 
with  the  upper  surface  even  with  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  may  be  placed  over  the  heads  of  graves. 

“  Planting  for  rural  adornment  will  be  kept  under 
the  control  of  the  company/’  and  as  is  stated  else¬ 
where,  is  discountenanced ,  but  permitted  to  a  limited 
extent. 

It  would  seem  that  in  accordance  with  the  idea  of 
securing  the  largest  landscape  effect,  combined  with 
the  elegance  of  a  park,  it  is  proposed  to  reduce  nearly 
everything  in  the  Cemetery,  except  the  monument,  to 
the  level  of  the  earth,  so  that  nature’s  green  velvet 
carpet  may  be  spread  over  the  whole  grounds,  there¬ 
by  rendering  it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  in  the 
season  of  luxuriant  grass,  or  that  of  deep  snows,  to 
identify  individual  graves.  Even  the  time-honored 
mound ,  rendered  sacred  by  the  custom  of  so  many  na¬ 
tions,  and  for  so  many  ages  past,  seems  to  be  doomed 
to  the  same  fate.  This  is  more  distinctly  announced 
in  a  chapter  headed, 

“  HOW  TO  IMPROVE  BURIAL  LOTS. 

“  1st.  I.  C.  Loudon,  in  his  work  on  landscape 
gardening,  is  quoted  approvingly  as  saying,  ‘  Plant 
sparingly.  For  our  own  particular  taste,  we  would 
have  no  flowers  at  all ,  nor  any  portion  of  the  ground 
within  the  Cemetery  that  had  the  appearance  of 
being  dug  or  otherwise  disturbed  for  the  purpose  of 
cultivation.’ 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


143 


“  2d.  Do  not  suffer  the  graves  to  he  disfigured  by 
unsightly  mounds ,  which,  by  not  allowing  the  free 
use  of  the  scythe,  are  apt  to  collect  weeds,  thus  pre¬ 
senting  a  neglected  appearance. 

“Banish  all  upright  slabs  and  head-stones ,  as  they 
give  to  the  lot  a  crowded  appearance,  suggestive  of  a 
Potter’s  Field. 

“  3d.  With  the  exception  of  the  small  amount 
required  to  provide  the  stone  boundary  marks,  and 
pay  for  flowers  and  care  of  lot,  let  every  dollar  of 
the  sum  you  can  afford,  or  are  willing  to  expend  in 
the  adornment  of  your  burial  lot,  be  placed  in  &  fam¬ 
ily  monument” 

In  considering  what  is  just  and  proper  with  regard 
to  a  question  which  so  deeply  touches  the  feelings  of 
the  thousands  who  have  committed  their  precious 
dead  to  the  guardianship  of  these  institutions,  the 
first  natural  reflection  is,  that  there  is  an  essential 
difference  between  the  sentiments  and  purposes  con¬ 
nected  with  the  arrangements  of  a  Cemetery,  with  its 
private  graves,  and  those  of  a  public  park. 

The  magnificent  park  of  900  acres  at  New  York, 
and  the  new  and  still  larger  one  now  being  opened 
at  Philadelphia,  of  2,900  acres,  are  models  of  that 
kind  of  improvement,  worthy  of  being  emulated  by 
other  cities.  Millions  of  dollars  have  been,  and 
millions  more  will  be  expended  in  fitting  them  up 
and  ornamenting  them  as  places  of  resort  for  the 
gay,  fashionable  and  elite  of  the  cities  with  which 


144 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


they  are  connected,  who  will  frequent  them  for  re¬ 
creation,  health  and  pleasure,  and  oftentimes  for  the 
display  of  fast  and  fine  horses  and  brilliant  equipages. 

These  are  public  parks,  supported  at  the  public 
expense ;  and  in  private  parks  the  amusements  and 
employments  are  similar.  What  are  the  objects  to 
be  met  with  even  in  the  private  park  of  an  English 
or  German  nobleman?  The  hounding  deer,  and 
other  animals  of  game,  and  the  chase,  the  fleet  and 
noble  horse  and  his  rider,  a  pack  of  hounds,  unken¬ 
nelled  on  special  occasions  for  the  gratification  of 
guests  fond  of  the  chase,  and,  in  many  instances,  the 
clanging  sounds  of  one  or  more  bands  of  music  to 
give  hilarity  and  animation  to  the  scene. 

But  such  are  not  the  sentiments  and  purposes  con¬ 
nected  with  the  Cemetery.  In  the  language  of  an 
eminent  writer  and  judge,  “  a  Cemetery  should  be 
regarded  as  a  sacred  resting  place  for  the  dead,  and 
should  never  be  entered  but  with  reverence  and  seri¬ 
ous  reflection.” 

Any  attempt  to  introduce  into  the  picture  the  gay 
and  mirthful  scenes  and  actors  of  parks  and  pleasure 
grounds  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  rules  of  good 
taste  and  propriety,  and  tend  only  to  mar  its  intrinsic 
interest  and  beauty. 

It  is  not  intended  in  these  remarks  to  depreciate 
the  profession  of  the  landscape  gardener,  or  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  taste  which  it  is  his  province  to  develope  in 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


145 


practice.  Nor  is  it  intended  to  say  aught  against 
public  parks  and  pleasure  grounds ;  no  intelligent 
man  will  doubt  their  great  public  utility  ;  but  believ¬ 
ing,  as  we  do,  that  in  jmrpose  and  design,  a  Cemetery 
is  one  thing,  and  a  park  or  pleasure  ground  another 
and  totally  different  thing,  and  that  each  have  their 
separate  departments  of  usefulness,  we  desfre  only  to 
suggest  a  caution  against  an  excessive  application  to 
the  Cemetery,  of  tastes  and  arrangements  appropri¬ 
ate  only  to  parks  and  pleasure  grounds,  and  in  keep¬ 
ing  with  them. 

While  it  is  eminently  proper  and  desirable  that 
the  principles  and  rules  of  landscape  gardening 
should  be  regarded  in  the  selection  of  grounds  and 
the  laying  out  of  Cemeteries,  it  may  be  doubted 
whether  good  taste,  natural  affection  and  religious 
feeling  will  sanction  the  changes  suggested  to  the 
extent  proposed,  especially  in  regard  to  private  lots 
and  graves. 

Notwithstanding  the  objections  above  stated,  which 
refer  chiefly  to  the  time-honored  mound  over  graves, 
and  to  the  prohibition  of  head  and  foot  stones,  we 
believe  some  of  the  features  of  the  landscape  lawn 
plan  are  the  suggestions  of  refined  and  cultivated 
taste,  and  that  their  adoption  as  before  stated,  with 
certain  modifications,  will  bring  about  important 
changes  and  improvements  in  the  general  arrange¬ 
ment  of  Cemeteries,  and  in  that  of  private  lots  and 


146 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


graves.  The  prohibition  of  all  inclosures  or  struc¬ 
tures  of  iron  or  wood,  or  any  perishable  material, 
around  burial  lots  and  graves,  is  itself  one  that  we 
doubt  not  will  meet  with  general  favor  and  accept¬ 
ance.  In  a  well  conducted  Cemetery  they  are  not 
only  useless  and  unnecessary,  but  always  expensive, 
and  subject  to  deterioration  from  exposure  to  the 
weather. 

But  on  the  other  hand,  it  must  be  conceded  that 
there  is  an  individuality  of  ownership  in  the  family 
lot,  which  the  proprietor  has  bought  and  paid  for, 
and  for  which  he  holds  a  deed  in  “  fee  simple,”  subject 
only  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Cemetery  ; 
and  that  there  is  also  a  personality  of  grief,  affection 
and  veneration  connected  with  it,  especially  when  it 
has  become  the  last  resting  place  of  the  once  ani¬ 
mated  forms  still  dearer  to  him  than  his  own  life, 
that  ignores  the  professional  tastes  and  arrangements 
of  the  landscape  gardener  and  park  engineer,  when 
they  conflict  with  the  innate  sentiments  and  feelings 
of  his  own  nature.  The  one  looks  on  the  burial  lot, 
with  its  solemn  surroundings,  as  a  blemish  in  the 
picture  of  a  beautiful  consistent  whole,  while  the 
other  reveres  it  as  a  consecrated  spot,  on  which  the 
foot  of  the  stranger  should  scarcely  be  permitted  to 
tread. 

The  feelings  of  an  affectionate  son  may  readily  be 
imagined,  who,  after  a  long  absence,  returns  to  his 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


147 


paternal  home,  and  repairs  to  the  Cemetery  to  visit 
once  more  the  graves  of  his  deceased  family  and 
friends.  Every  object  in  and  around  the  family  lot 
in  which  they  are  buried,  is  photographed  on  his 
memory.  The  inclosures,  the  monuments,  the  trees, 
the  mounds  that  cover  the  remains  of  his  father, 
mother,  sister  and  brother,  and  distinguish  them  from 
each  other,  are  fresh  in  his  mind,  and  make  up  the 
vivid  picture  he  has  carried  with  him  through  storms 
and  perils  by  sea  and  land.  But,  he  is  informed  that 
new  arrangements  have  recently  been  introduced  into 
the  Cemetery — that  these  inclosures  must  be  re¬ 
moved — that  this  modest  monument  erected  by  his 
father,  over  the  remains  of  his  beloved  mother,  must 
be  taken  down,  one  monument  only  being  permitted 
in  each  lot — that  the  head  and  foot-stones  marking 
the  spot  where  others  of  the  family  are  laid,  must  be 
lowered  to  the  level  of  the  surrounding  surface ;  that 
these  mounds,  identifying  the  remains  of  his  honored 
parents,  and  all  the  other  deceased  members  of  the 
family,  must  be  reduced  to  the  same  level — that  they 
disfigure  the  grounds  by  their  unsightly  appearance, 
and  mar  the  landscape  effect,  and  park-like  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  Cemetery. 

His  indignant  protest  may  readily  be  anticipated. 
Is  this  a  modern  park  ?  a  place  for  gayety  and  pleas¬ 
ure  ?  or  is  it  a  Cemetery,  sacred  to  the  repose  of  the 
dead,  and  thoughtful  reflection  to  the  living  ?  Talk 


148 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


not  to  me  of  spreading  the  green  carpet  of  nature 
oyer  these  graves.  She  has  room  enough  in  more 
appropriate  places  to  display  her  carpets  and  flowers. 
These  mounds  that  covered  them  have  been  renewed 
and  replanted  by  affectionate  hands  with  fresh  flow¬ 
ers  every  returning  spring  for  many  years.  Remove 
the  inclosures  of  the  lot  if  you  please,  but  disturb  not 
these  mounds  that  tell  me  the  precise  spot  where  the 
remains  of  my  revered  father  and  mother  and  the  rest 
of  my  kindred  repose.  Let  them  remain  as  they  are, 
unchanged,  unless  it  be  by  the  addition  of  one  other, 
which  will  contain  my  remains  when  the  battle  of 
life  is  over,  and  I  shall  be  laid  by  their  side. 

One  other  thought  may  be  added,  in  reference  to 
evils  to  be  apprehended  from  blending  too  closely  the 
features  of  a  park  or  pleasure  ground  with  those  of  a 
Cemetery.  With  the  exception  of  funeral  processions, 
it  is  a  standing  rule  of  most  Cemeteries  that  no  per¬ 
sons  are  admitted  on  Sundays,  but  proprietors  and 
members  of  their  household,  and  persons  accompany¬ 
ing  them. 

Notwithstanding  this  positive  prohibition,  it  is 
found  difficult  to  restrain  the  large  number  of  per¬ 
sons  that  claim  admittance  on  that  day,  especially  in 
the  summer  season.  Now,  let  this  restriction  be 
removed  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  those  who  have 
but  little  regard  for  the  sanctity  of  the  day,  whose 
views  of  liberty  permit  them  to  ignore  any  binding 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries. 


149 


responsibility  to  God  or  governments;  and  at  the 
same  time  let  the  sentiments  and  tastes  of  the  advo¬ 
cates  of  the  Landscape  Park  system,  as  applied  to 
Cemeteries,  gain  the  decided  preference  in  popular 
favor,  and  be  carried  out  to  their  full  extent,  and 
soon  it  would  be  found  that  parties  of  pleasure,  and 
pic-nics,  and  all  sorts  of  ojectionable  amusements, 
would  be  the  order  of  the  day,  and  that  a  cohort  of 
policemen  would  not  be  sufficient  to  restrain  within 
the  bounds  of  order  and  decorum  the  crowds  of  disor¬ 
derly  people  that  would  flock  every  returning  Sunday 
to  the  Cemetery,  to  participate  in  scenes  of  amuse¬ 
ment  and  dissipation. 

History  has  not  left  us  uninformed  of  the  games, 
festivals  and  amusements  practiced  in  public  groves 
and  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds  in  former  times, 
and  of  the  excesses  to  which  they  gave  origin  and  en¬ 
couragement  ;  and  it  may  be  well  to  remember  that 
history  sometimes  repeats  itself,  and  that,  too,  often- 
er  in  the  wrong,  than  in  the  right  direction. 

This  country  is  far  in  advance  of  Europe  in  the 
number,  extent  and  arrangement  of  rural  Cemeteries. 
There  are  but  few  there  that  will  compare  favorably 
with  those  in  the  large  cities  of  the  United  States. 

European  countries,  however,  are  still  farther  in 
advance  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  parks  and 
pleasure  grounds  ;  and  though  they  are  slow  to  take 
lessons  from  this  side  of  the  water,  it  may  be  well  for 


150 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


us  to  learn  from  them  on  this  subject.  Intelligent 
American  travellers  speak  in  high  terms  of  approval, 
of  the  healthful  and  happy  influence  they  exert  in 
various  ways  on  the  population  of  large  towns  and 
cities  in  the  old  world. 

The  example  furnished  by  the  eastern  cities  in  the 
establishment  of  large  and  beautiful  Cemeteries,  was 
promptly  and  extensively  adopted  all  over  the  Union, 
and  it  is  altogether  probable  that  similar  results  will 
follow  from  the  opening  of  the  splendid  parks  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  before  alluded  to. 

The  first  is  an  established  success  and  the  pride  of 
that  city.  At  the  latter  it  is  intended  to  make  im¬ 
provements  on  a  scale  of  magnificence  and  splendor 
unequalled  in  the  country,  aud  to  erect  large,  expen¬ 
sive  and  permanent  buildings,  not  only  for  the  accom¬ 
modation  of  the  Centennial  Convention  which  will 
meet  there  on  the  4th  of  July,  1876,  but  for  all 
similar  purposes  in  time  to  come. 

Hundreds  of  thousands  will  visit  these  parks,  and 
will  carry  back  to  their  respective  communities  the 
enthusiastic  admiration  they  will  inspire,  and  through 
the  influence  thus  diffused,  we  doubt  not,  that  at  no 
distant  day,  every  city  of  respectable  population  in 
the  country  will  have  not  only  its  spacious  and  well 
arranged  rural  Cemetery,  but  its  rural  park  also, 
each  adapted  in  its  own  separate  and  appropriate 


Ornamentation  of  Cemeteries.  151 

sphere,  to  meet  the  wants  and  necessities  of  the 
public. 

The  one  is  a  stern  and  inevitable  necessity.  The 
other  is  worthy  of  commendation,  as  it  conduces  to 
the  health,  happiness  and  wellbeing  of  society. 

J.  E.  S. 


/ 


152 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


FUNERAL  ORATION, 

BY 

WILSON  McCANDLESS,  Esq. 

May  12th,  1848, 

DELIVERED  ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  REMOVAL  TO  THE  ALLEGHENY 
CEMETERY  OF  THE  REMAINS  OF  COMMODORE  BARNEY 
AND  LIEUTENANT  PARKER. 


These  bones  live — live  in  the  patriotic  affection 
of  the  American  people. 

Clothed  in  the  image  of  God,  and  animated  with 
the  spirit  of  these  departed  heroes,  they  were  the 
public  property  of  the  nation.  To  us,  and  to  our 
successors,  is  confided  the  sacred  trust  of  preserving 
them  inviolate,  until  the  last  trump  shall  call  the 
dead  to  judgment. 

This  is  a  heroic  solemnity,  and  this  multitude  of 
living  witnesses  have  come  from  the  activity  of  a 
tumultuous  city,  to  look  in  sadness  upon  the  re-in¬ 
terment  of  those  who  were  once  “  candidates  high 
in  emulation  for  the  prize  of  glory.”  This  pall  and 
this  mourning  are  alike  creditable  to  the  living  and 
the  dead — to  our  country  and  to  our  social  relations. 
They  awaken  recollections  of  the  virtues  of  the  de- 


BARNEY  MOUND. 


Funeral  Oration. 


153 


ceased,  and  the  stirring  scenes  in  which  they  partici¬ 
pated.  They  remind  us  also  of  the  inevitable  hour 
common  to  us  all,  and  that 

“  The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave.” 

Far  from  the  endearments  of  home  and  consan¬ 
guinity,  two  of  them  surrendered  to  the  last  enemy 
of  mortality,  what  they  refused  to  the  bravest  of 
their  country’s  enemies;  and  the  other  died  amid 
the  conflict  of  arms,  with  his  face  to  the  bristling 
steel  of  the  enraged  foe.  Here  on  this  mount,  ded¬ 
icated  with  appropriate  solemnities  to  the  purposes 
of  sepulture,  they  will  repose ;  and  the  tall  column, 
carved  with  the  emblems  of  their  great  .deeds,  will 
rise  to  animate  their  countrymen  in  all  future  strug¬ 
gles  for  the  preservation  of  constitutional  liberty. 
Here  the  dews  will  descend,  and  fresh  flowers  be 
sprinkled  on  their  graves,  as  long  as  the  veins  of 
American  women  swell  with  the  blood  of  the  Rev¬ 
olution.  Here  the  young  and  gallant  soldier  will 
come  from  the  pomp,  parade  and  toil  of  the  camp,  to 
do  homage  to  warriors  clad  in  clay.  And  here  the 
intrepid  sailor,  nursed  in  the  storm,  with  the  tide  of 
generous  sorrow  working  upward  to  his  eye,  will 
wipe  away  a  tear  from  his  manly  cheek,  as  he  gazes 
upon  the  spot  where  Barney  and  Parker  lie. 

Joshua  Barney  was  a  native  of  the  gallant  State 
of  Maryland,  but  his  mouldering  bones  are  entitled 

to  rest,  with  honorable  distinction,  upon  the  soil  of 

11 


154 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


Pennsylvania.  From  our  Legislature  lie  received 
tokens  of  approbation  for  meritorious  conduct  in 
protecting  the  commerce  of  the  Delaware ;  and  his 
family  now  possess  the  sword  awarded  to  him  by 
this  State,  for  that  and  other  distinguished  services 
rendered  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  foreign 
service,  and  in  perils  of  the  sea,  before  that  great 
event,  his  patriotic  valor  was  at  once  enlisted  in  the 
cause  of  his  country,  and  two  days  after  the  declar¬ 
ation  of  American  Independence,  he  sailed  from 
Philadelphia  with  a  commission,  as  Lieutenant,  from 
the  Continental  Congress.  Although  in  a  subordin¬ 
ate  position  upon  the  Sachem  and  Andrew  Doria,  a 
vessel  captured  from  the  enemy,  his  naval  skill  and 
indomitable  bravery  brought  him  prominently  before 
the  country.  Prize  after  prize  was  taken,  and  the 
haughty  Cross  of  St.  George  was  lowered  in  more 
than  one  instance  by  his  own  hands.  Ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  Saratoga,  of  only  sixteen  guns,  he 
took  an  English  frigate  of  thirty-two  guns,  boarded 
her  under  the  fire  of  a  broadside,  and  run  up  the 
American  flag.  But  he  could  not  always  be  success¬ 
ful,  and  in  bringing  the  ship  home,  as  a  trophy  of 
his  victory,  he  himself  was  captured  and  carried  to 
England,  there  to  suffer  the  horrors  of  an  enemy’s 
cruelty. 

By  a  well  arranged  plan  he  escaped  to  the  United 
States,  and  was  not  long  inactive  in  avenging  the 


Funeral  Oration. 


155 


wrongs  lie  received  abroad.  In  the  action  of  the 
Hyder  Ali,  and  for  which  he  was  complimented  by 
Pennsylvania,  he  reserved  his  fire  until  within  pistol 
shot — then  raked  his  adversary  fore  and  aft,  and  in 
twenty  minutes  her  colors  were  struck.  This  was 
the  most  gallant  action  of  his  naval  life,  and  for 
which  he  received  the  thanks  of  Congress  and  the 
country.  His  fame  travelled  throughout  the  land, 
and  his  praise  was  incorporated  in  the  ballads  of  the 
day  ;  “  The  roaring  Hyder  Ali  ”  was  as  familiar  to 
all,  as  the  nursery  tales  to  lisping  infancy,  or  the 
scenes  at  Bunker  Hill  to  the  valiant  soldier  who  had 
participated  in  that  bloody  combat.  The  name  of 
the  captured  vessel,  the  General  Monk,  was  changed 
to  General  Washington  ;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  his¬ 
torical  fact,  that  this  ship,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Barney,  carried  out  to  Europe  the  instruc¬ 
tions  of  his  government  to  Dr.  Franklin,  relative  to 
the  negotiations  for  peace,  and  was  the  first  to  bring 
back  to  this  country  the  thrilling  news,  that  it  was 
accomplished  upon  a  basis  honorable  and  satisfactory 
to  the  American  people. 

This  rich  freight  could  not  have  been  borne  on  a 
vessel  with  a  name  more  appropriate  than  that  of 
the  Father  of  his  Country,  whose  valor  had  won  the 
battles,  and  whose  skill  had  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  Republic.  It  is  an  opulent  legacy,  too,  to  the 
descendants  of  the  Commodore,  that  his  name  should 


156 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteky. 


be  so  illustriously  associated  with  one  of  the  grandest 
epochs  of  American  history ;  and  it  is  a  still  prouder 
honor,  that  under  the  new  Constitution  he  should 
have  been  selected,  with  Truxton  and  Dale,  by  Pres¬ 
ident  Washington,  to  the  command  of  one  of  the 
six  vessels  authorized  by  Congress,  and  then  com¬ 
posing  the  /whole  navy  of  the  United  States. 

This  he  declined,  and  relieved  from  public  duty, 
he  sailed  for  France,  and  was  there  the  medium 
through  which  the.,  colors  under  which  he  fought 
were  presented  to  the  National  Assembly  of  that 
versatile,  but  now  regenerated  people.  His  country 
at  peace  with  her  first  enemy,  his  active  and  ener¬ 
getic  spirit  could  not  remain  in  repose.  His  life  had 
been  too  eventful,  filled  with  too  many  incidents 
of  stirring  interest ;  he  had  been  too  much  an  ocean 
ranger,  to  be  quiet,  and  he  accepted  a  high  post  in 
the  navy  of  our  ancient  ally.  For  seven  years  he 
continued  in  the  French  service,  honorably  and  ac¬ 
tively  employed,  and  received  testimonials  of  merit 
from  sources  of  the  highest  military  consideration. 
In  1802  he  resigned,  and  returned  to  the  United 
States. 

The  war  of  1812  found  the  Commodore,  with  all 
his  laurels  fresh  about  him,  in  the  stillness  of  civic 
quietude  upon  his  farm ;  but  he  snuffed  the  battle 
with  the  breeze — felt  that  he  was  summoned  to  mar- 


Funeral  Oration. 


157 


tial  scenes — drew  his  sword,  and  in  a  short  time  was 
once  more  upon  his  native  element. 

On  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  against  fearful  odds,  he 
encountered  the  enemy — struck  for  the  honor  and 
rights  of  his  country — and  did  execution  that  re¬ 
dounded  to  his  glory  and  fame ;  and  when  that  en¬ 
emy  approached  the  Capitol,  in  which  were  stored 
the  archives  of  the  Government,  and  among  them 
the  official  records  of  his  own  gallant  achievements, 
he  landed — he  met  them  at  Bladensburg — and  could 
this  frail  anatomy,  this  remnant  of  what  he  was,  he 
exposed  to  public  view,  it  would  bear  testimony  that 
the  balls  he  bore  upon  his  person  were  received  in 
front,  and  not  in  the  rear. 

Pittsburgh  and  Pennsylvania  honor  him  ;  Balti¬ 
more  and  Maryland  should  join  us  in  erecting  a 
lofty  shaft  to  his  memory ! 

What  shall  I  say  of  Parker  ?  The  features  of  his 
short,  but  brilliant  career,  crowd  upon  me  so  rapidly 
that  I  am  overwhelmed  with  act  and  incident.  Like 
the  outline  of  his  manly  face,  they  are  vivid  as  the 
morning  of  the  day  on  which  the  news  of  his  tri¬ 
umph  reached  us  ;  and  they  call  to  memory  the  joys 
of  his  little  family,  now  in  our  midst,  that  he  was 
safe — safe  from  his  great  enterprises  by  sea  and  land. 
Here  is  his  body  from  the  sands  of  Salmadina — 

“All  at  rest  now — all  dust !” 

and  none  of  his  comrades  near  him,  to  join  with  us  in 


158 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


the  solemn  rites  to  which  we  have  appropriated  this 
day.  Here  is  his  wife — how  bitter  to  her  the  recol¬ 
lection  of  his  living  presence,  when  she  remembers 
what  a  devoted  and  cherished  husband  he  was  to  her. 
Here  are  his  children — orphans — all  in  infancy, 
scarcely  able  to  articulate — mirthful  and  innocent — 
how  can  they  realize  the  absence  of  one  who  joined 
them  in  the  gambols  of  childhood,  and  who  longed 
for  them  when  far,  far  off  at  sea!  With  what  youthful 
melody  they  would  have  celebrated  his  return,  and 
with  what  sadness  they  would  look  upon  his  bier,  if 
conscious  of  the  loss  they  have  sustained ! 

In  this  the  spring  time  of  their  lives,  may  God 
protect  them ;  and  as  He  gives  to  these  trees  their 
varied  foliage,  may  He  continually  adorn  their  young 
“  hearts  and  minds  with  His  love  and  fear.” 

James  Lawrence  Parker  was  a  man  of  extra¬ 
ordinary  parts.  A  native  of  Philadelphia,  of  humble 
parentage,  like  the  young  Corsican,  he  was  the  ar¬ 
chitect  of  his  own  fortunes.  None  of  the  incidents 
to  birth  and  education,  were  his  privileges.  Parental 
affection  would  have  granted  him  everything,  but  for 
want  and  deprivation;  and  his  own  generous  nature, 
at  an  early  age,  sought  rather  to  carve  out  for  him¬ 
self  his  destiny,  than  to  hang  as  an  incubus  upon 
those  who  had  been  instrumental  in  bringing  him 
into  existence. 

When  only  fifteen,  he  entered  as  an  apprentice 


Funeral  Oration. 


159 


on  board  the  Independence .  The  name  of  the  vessel 
alone,  was  enough  to  stimulate  his  youthful  ardor, 
and  prepare  him  for  the  gallant  deeds  in  which  he 
was  an  active  participant.  Prompt  in  the  discharge 
of  every  duty,  and  with  a  precocity  that  at  once 
singled  him  from  his  fellows,  he  was  removed  to  the 
midshipmen’s  mess.  Any  one  who  has  been  in  that 
microcosm,  a  man-of-war,  will  readily  appreciate 
this  promotion,  and  Parker  was  the  first  to  acknowl¬ 
edge  and  profit  by  it. 

From  this  ship  he  was  transferred  to  the  Java , 
and  made  the  cruise  of  the  Mediterranean,  the  very 
geography  of  which  was  calculated  to  instill  into  his 
youthful  mind  a  love  of  glory,  and  veneration  for 
heroes  that  had  stamped  their  names  upon  classic 
pages.  The  four  years  occupied  in  this  voyage  were 
not  spent  in  idleness.  He  acquired  the  affection 
and  confidence  of  his  superiors — a  knowledge  of 
navigation  and  foreign  language — and  upon  his 
return,  was  recommended  for  appointment  as  mid¬ 
shipman. 

Hark  as  are  the  alleys,  and  difficult  the  approach 
to  the  head  of  the  department  at  Washington,  his 
energy  surmounted  them.  He  was  encountered  by 
the  accustomed  information,  always  blandly  afforded, 
that  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  Penn¬ 
sylvania  applications  in  advance  of  him.  This  was 
enough  to  dampen  the  energies  of  one  less  resolute ; 


160 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


but  nothing  daunted,  he  applied  in  person  to  Presi¬ 
dent  Jackson. 

The  keen  sagacity,  and  penetration  of  human  char¬ 
acter,  which  always  characterized  that  illustrious  gen¬ 
tleman,  instantly  saw  in  him  qualities  that  should 
not  be  lost  to  the  country,  and  at  once  he  ordered  his 
commission  to  be  prepared. 

With  a  reward  of  merit  so  properly  bestowed,  he 
joined  the  Potomac,  and  made  a  voyage  round  the 
world.  During  this  eventful  period,  he  first  exhib¬ 
ited  those  military  qualities  that  have  distinguished 
him  since  the  commencement  of  the  Mexican  war. 

In  Sumatra,  he  was  prominent  in  the  attack  and 
discomfiture  of  the  Malays  at  Quallah  Battoo — a 
just  chastisement  inflicted  upon  freebooters,  for  mur¬ 
der  and  piracy  upon  American  commerce. 

For  his  skill  and  intrepidity,  he  again  received 
commendation  from  the  commanding  officers,  and 
felt  a  new  impulse  urging  him  to  greater  exertion. 
Bather  than  return  to  his  native  land  with  the  ship, 
he  preferred  remaining  abroad,  until  he  should  ac¬ 
quire  that  knowledge  which  would  entitle  him  to 
immediate  promotion  upon  his  arrival  at  home.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  frigate  Brandywine ;  remained 
with  her  during  a  perilous  cruise ;  by  close  applica¬ 
tion  he  completed  his  studies  in  navigation  and  the 
modern  languages,  and  upon  examination,  was  raised 
to  a  higher  grade  in  this  arm  of  our  national  defence. 


Funeral  Oration. 


161 


After  a  voyage  to  the  East  Indies,  with  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant,  upon  his  own  urgent  solicitation,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to  participate  in  the 
dangers  and  glories  of  the  present  war. 

Amid  the  northers,  the  stormy  billows,  and  stern 
realities  of  this  sea  life,  he  panted  for  an  opportunity 
to  distinguish  himself.  His  comrades  of  the  navy 
were  equally  impatient ;  for  all  the  honors  were  being 
won  by  the  army  on  land.  Their  position  was  com¬ 
paratively  passive.  Maintaining  a  blockade,  they 
could  hear  the  booming  cannon  on  shore,  but  were 
not  permitted  to  be  there. 

It  was  in  this  calm,  this  solicitude  for  distinction 
in  his  profession,  and  determination  to  rival  those 
who  had  preceded  him,  that  he  resolved  to  excel 
Decatur  at  Tripoli,  and  cut  out  the  Oreole  from  under 
the  walls  of  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa.  A 
perilous  undertaking  it  was,  and  performed  under 
a  negative  disobedience  of  orders;  but  it  resulted 
as  all  such  enterprises  do,  when  conceived  and  ex¬ 
ecuted  by  master  spirits  of  the  navy.  Within  range 
of  a  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  upon  a  tempestuous 
surge,  and  but  for  the  darkness  of  the  night,  in  full 
view  of  the  Spanish,  French  and  English  fleets,  he, 
and  those  who  followed  him,  did  what  extorted  ad¬ 
miration  from  those  who,  but  for  its  chivalrous  dar¬ 
ing,  would  have  been  reluctant  to  admit  that  it  had 
been  accomplished  at  all. 


162 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


But  the  noblest  of  his  acts  upon  the  Gulf,  was  at 
the  loss  of  the  Somers .  His  presence  of  mind  never 
forsook  him,  and  he  periled  his  life  over  and  over 
again,  to  preserve  those  less  capable  of  physical  exer¬ 
tion  than  himself.  History  has  recorded  all  this — 
and  it  requires  no  effort  of  mine  to  stereotype  it  upon 
the  public  memory. 

Parker  was  not  satisfied  with  his  achievements  on 
the  water.  At  Tuspan  and  Tabasco,  he  fought  with 
the  foremost  of  the  enemy  ;  and  it  was  in  one  of  these 
engagements  he  received  a  wound  that  terminated  a 
career  full  of  fame  to  him,  and  honor  to  the  service 
in  which  he  was  engaged. 

His  Commodore  has  sent  his  remains  to  us,  as  the 
last  tribute  he  could  pay  to  one  dear  to  him  by  every 
quality  that  renders  estimable  the  officer  and  the 
man.  Into  the  narrow  cell  appointed  for  all  living, 
we  commit  him,  knowing  that  even  “  in  his  ashes  his 
wonted  fires  ”  will  live,  for  the  imitation  of  his  chil¬ 
dren,  and  the  emulation  of  his  countrymen. 

Yet  another  of  these  gallant  spirits,  whose  lifeless 
forms  are  before  me,  claims  the  tribute  of  a  passing 
sigh.  Near  us  is  deposited  her  who  nursed  him  in 
youth  and  cherished  him  in  manhood.  At  her  side 
will  he  be  laid,  until  the  morning  of  the  Resurrec¬ 
tion. 

When  the  present  war  called  to  arms  the  youth 


Funeral  Oration. 


163 


and  chivalry  of  the  country,  he  wanted  to  go,  and  yet 
filial  affection  caused  him  to  hesitate  ;  and 

“  Then  said  the  mother  to  the  son, 

And  pointed  to  his  shield, 

1  Come  with  it,  when  the  battle’s  done, 

Or  on  it,  from  the  field.’  ” 

Here  is  the  gallant  fellow  on  his  shield,  pierced 
by  more  than  twenty  arrows  from  the  quiver  of  the 
enemy. 

He  fell  at  Puebla,  with  sixteen  of  our  brave 
townsmen  of  the  Duquesne  Greys,  overwhelmed  by 
numbers,  and  fighting  with  the  prowess  which  be¬ 
came  him  and  the  corps  to  which  he  was  attached. 

Lieutenant  Sewell  (for  to  this  appellation  he  is 
entitled  by  promotion  from  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  without  a  knowledge  of  his  death,  and 
with  an  appreciation  of  his  meritorious  services  at 
Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo,)  was  a  most  estimable 
young  gentleman,  strictly  correct  in  his  public  de¬ 
portment,  and  scrupulous  of  the  amenities  of  private 
life.  Sister  and  brother  mourn  his  loss,  and  cherish 
the  posthumous  honors  paid  to  his  memory. 

When  the  heroic  sons  of  Pennsylvania,  who  have 
hazarded  everything  for  their  country,  shall  return, 
what  a  melancholy  satisfaction  it  will  be  to  them  to 
know,  that  if  they  also  had  been  slain  in  battle, 
friends  at  home  would  not  have  been  unmindful  of 
their  services  and  sacrifices. 

Now  that  we  have  imperfectly  recurred  to  the 


164 


The  Allegheny  Cemetery. 


lives  of  the  dead,  it  may  be  asked  by  skepticism 
and  false  philosophy,  why  this  pomp  and  parade — 
this  folly  and  vanity  ?  why  not  consign  these  bones 
to  the  deep,  or  let  them  whiten  the  soil  of  Mexico  ? 
Bone  will  be  united  to  its  fellow — this  corruptible 
will  put  on  incorruption — and  at  the  Last  Day  the 
sea  will  give  up  its  dead. 

But  we  have  the  authority  of  patriarchal  example : 
“  Bury  me  not,  I  pray  thee,  in  Egypt:  but  I  will  lie 
with  my  fathers,  and  thou  shalt  carry  me  out  of 
Egypt,  and  bury  me  in  their  burying  place.” 

This  solemn  injunction  of  the  father  to  the  son, 
was,  with  filial  reverence,  obeyed,  although  he  might 
have  commanded  the  proudest  place  in  the  catacombs. 
“  And  there  went  up  with  him  both  chariots  and 
horsemen,  and  it  was  a  very  great  company.” 

Bemember,  too,  that  the  descendants  of  this  excel¬ 
lent  and  dutiful  son,  entertaining  the  same  grateful 
and  honorable  sentiment,  imitated  his  pious  example. 
“  The  bones  of  Joseph,  which  the  children  of  Israel 
brought  up  out  of  Egypt,  buried  they  in  Shechem, 
in  a  parcel  of  ground  which  Jacob  bought  of  the 
sons  of  ILamar,  the  father  of  Shechem,  for  an  hun¬ 
dred  pieces  of  silver,  and  it  became  the  inheritance  of 
the  children  of  Joseph.” 

When  the  son  of  Nun  died,  that  great  Captain  of 
his  age,  he  who  said,  “  Sun,  stand  thou  still  on  Gib- 
eon,  and  thou,  Moon,  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon  ” — his 
devoted  followers  “  buried  him  in  the  borders  of  his 


Funeral  Oration. 


165 


inheritance,  in  Timnath-serah,  which  is  in  Mount 
Ephraim,  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill  of  Gaash.” 

The  first  act  of  David,  after  he  was  anointed  King 
over  the  house  of  Judah,  was  to  send  for  the  men 
who  had  buried  Saul.  Messengers  were  dispatched 
to  them,  saying,  “  Blessed  he  ye  of  the  Lord,  that 
ye  have  showed  this  kindness  unto  your  lord,  even 
unto  Saul,  and  have  buried  him.” 

And  if  compelled  to  resort  to  Apocryphal  testi¬ 
mony,  I  might  cite  the  respect  of  Simon  for  the 
bones  of  his  brother  Jonathan,  which  he  buried  in 
Modin. 

“  All  Israel  made  great  lamentation  for  him,  and 
bewailed  him  many  days.  Simon  also  built  a  monu¬ 
ment  upon  the  sepulchre  of  his  father  and  his  bro¬ 
ther,  and  raised  it  aloft  to  the  sight,  with  hewn  stone, 
behind  and  before. 

“  Moreover,  he  set  up  seven  pyramids,  and  in  these 
he  made  cunning  devices,  about  which  he  set  great 
pillars,  and  upon  these  pillars  he  made  all  their 
armor,  for  a  perpetual  memory,  and  by  the  armor 
ships  carved,  that  they  might  be  seen  of  all  that  sail 
on  the  sea.  This  is  the  sepulchre  which  he  made  at 
Modin,  and  it  standeth  yet,  unto  this  day.” 

In  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  when  the  types  of  the 
new  covenant  were  being  realized  in  the  miracles 
and  mysteries  of  that  eventful  period,  “  devout  men 
carried  Stephen  to  his  burial,  and  made  great  lamen¬ 
tation  over  him.” 


166 


The  Allegheny  Cemeteey. 


It  is  a  custom  honored  by  the  observance  of  all 
nations,  heathen  and  Christian.  To  enumerate  them, 
from  urn  burial  to  the  simple  commitment  of  “  dust 
to  dust,  ashes  to  ashes,”  would  neither  convince  nor 
convert  the  unbeliever. 

Besides,  who  is  there,  with  a  spark  of  true  affec¬ 
tion  lingering  in  his  heart,  that  does  not  feel  elated 
and  subdued  by  a  scene  like  this  ?  And  who  ite  there 
that  does  not  cling  with  fondness  to  the  inanimate 
bodies  of  those  who  were,  in  life,  the  objects  of  their 
love  and  admiration  ? 

The  Egyptians,  the  Greeks,  the  Romans,  and  even 
the  Turks,  paid  commendable  attention  to  the  burial 
of  the  dead.  The  lofty  Pyramid,  the  Cave,  the 
Bock,  the  Field — each  and  all  were  set  apart,  in 
respectful  reverence,  for  the  last  offices  due  to  hu¬ 
manity.  And  shall  we,  in  this  golden  era  of  the 
world,  this  enlightened  age  of  thought  and  action, 
be  indifferent  to  social  refinement,  or  the  gentler 
characteristics  of  civilization  ? 

To  the  Earth,  then,  we  commit  these  corruptible 
bodies,  that  in  life  honored  their  names  and  profes¬ 
sions,  looking  to  the  general  Resurrection  at  the 
Last  Lay,  when  that  which  is  “  sown  in  weakness 
shall  be  raised  in  power,  and  that  which  is  sown  in 
dishonor  shall  be  raised  in  glory.” 

Mortalitate  relictce ,  vivunt  immortalitate  induti. 


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